May 11, 2021: Northern Cardinal
By now many of you have been hearing and seeing the very bright red male Northern Cardinal–calling from the treetops, trying very hard to defend the territory that he has selected. He will chase off intruding males, even going so far as to crash into windows, thinking his reflection is another male.
The female is a fawn color, with mostly grayish-brown tones and a slight reddish tint on the wings, the crest, and the tail feathers. Eventually, if you watch closely, you will see the male select a seed and very carefully feed the female beak-to-beak. This behavior continues throughout the breeding season, during which they may have two nesting periods. The male continues to offer seeds, but eventually, she will refuse his offering.
The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of seven U.S. states, more than any other species: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Hope you will enjoy seeing one of our most beautiful birds.
Happy Birding!