pyrocephalus (from pyros, fire, and kephale, head) rubinus (red)
Sunday, April 1, 1984 — 9:00 am
Coronado National Forest, Arizona — Road from Continental to Sonoita
This is an incredibly beautiful bird. We were driving along the same road where I had seen the Phainopeplas. It had turned from blacktop to gravel as it cut through the scrubby foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains.
I spotted the Vermilion Flycatcher as it flew past the van and landed on a low branch in a mesquite about 15 yards away. I screamed for Mom to stop, and we watched it for a few minutes. It then took off and disappeared.