Habitat

Inhabits semi-arid scrubs from sea-level up to 300 meters above sea level, occasionally up to 700 meters above sea level in Lara (Venezuela) and 800 meters above sea level in Cerro Copey, Margarita Island (Venezuela). These scrubs are dominated by columnar cacti (Stenocereus griseus and Cereus repandus), non-columnar cacti (Melocactus curvispinus and Opuntia wentiana), and leguminous trees and bushes (Prosopis juliflora and Parkinsonia praecox). A Redundancy Analysis, which included 19 vegetation variables (12 structural and 7 floristics), showed that the Vermilion Cardinal's abundance was positively correlated with the height of shrubs and cacti, both columnar and non-columnar (44 Rodríguez-Ferraro, A. (2008). Community ecology and phylogeography of bird assemblages in arid zones of northern Venezuela: implications for the conservation of restricted-range birds. PhD thesis, University of Missouri, Saint Louis, MI, USA. Close ). Dense shrubs are necessary for nesting, and columnar cacti are frequently used as singing perches.

In the Paraguaná Peninsula (Venezuela), the density of Vermilion Cardinal varied significantly at a local scale, depending on vegetation structure and composition. The highest density (2.7 individuals/ha) was estimated at mixed scrubs with high structural complexity, with an upper stratum composed of thorny trees, shrubs, and abundant columnar cacti (Stenocereus griseus) and a dense shrub lower stratum. In contrast, the lowest density (0.3 individuals/ha) was observed in sites strongly dominated by mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) that forms a tree stratum of 5-6 m height with a sparse undergrowth composed only of prickly pear cacti (Opuntia wentiana) and mesquite saplings (54 Bosque, C. (1984). Structure and diversity of arid zone bird communities in Venezuela. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. Close ). Intermediate densities (1.1 individuals/ha) were found at two sites: one was dominated by spinescent trees (P. juliflora and Parkinsonia praecox) and a smaller number of columnar cacti (Stenocereus griseus), and the other was dominated by spinescent and broad-leaved deciduous trees where columnar cacti were almost absent (54 Bosque, C. (1984). Structure and diversity of arid zone bird communities in Venezuela. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. Close ).