The Northern Cardinal

The bright red breast of the male Northern Cardinal is quite a sight against a snow-laden hemlock. (Photo--though not of a snowy scene--courtesy of Charles H. Warren.) Happily, living here in central Pennsylvania, I frequently see cardinals in the snow. I suspect that mostly everyone knows the male Northern Cardinal by sight—this bird’s striking red color demands attention! Yet let’s not forget the female cardinal who, though less showy, possesses the more sophisticated look. When spying on the female though binoculars, I'm sometimes convinced that she's the more beautiful. Her grayish feathers are so stylishly tinged with red on the wings, tail, and crest.

The cardinals who visit my feeder also take a keen interest in the outside mirrors of my car. All through the warm seasons, these birds amuse themselves by looking for their reflections in the mirrors. It's a comical thing to see, but then the white droppings that splatter the side of my red car are somewhat less funny. Ha!

And when it comes to singing, in the spring and summer, the Northern Cardinal is perhaps as vocal as even the noisiest birds (in that category, Blue Jays and American Crows come to mind). Like everything else about the Northern Cardinal, their clear, strong whistles command attention, appreciation, and certainly admiration! Listen to their varied songs at All About Birds (sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Once you recognize the songs of the Northern Cardinal, you'll never mistake it.

Till later . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne