Bird of the Week: CLXV
My bird of the week is the Northern Cardinal with the scientific name Cardinalis cardinalis. We have a cardinal couple who have visited daily for more than a year. I’ve named the male “Red” and the female “Mrs.”
Yesterday, I had a close encounter with Red. I slept in and was late filling the bird feeder. As I sat drinking coffee by a window, Red flew a few inches from the window and stared at me. He flapped his wings hovering in place. I got the message. He sat above me on a tree branch as I filled the feeder and was the first bird to hit the feeder.
If Red wants food, he isn’t shy. Usually he sings loudly at me. But approaching the window for my attention was a first.
Cardinals are song birds and they have distinctive songs and calls. Here’s a LINK to their sounds from All About Birds.
Mrs. doesn’t have the bright red coloring of the males. Female cardinals are tan with olive tones and highlights of red-orange on their crest, tail and wings. Their bill is a bright coral. Males are typically brilliant red with a black mask. There is a rare genetic mutation that causes cardinals to be bright yellow. There’s only been a few sightings in the wild of yellow cardinals.
Cardinals are located in North America from the southwest, parts of Mexico across the US to the entire east coast. Their size, according to All About Birds, is length: 8.3–9.1 inches (21–23 cm) weight: 1.5–1.7 oz (42–48 g) and wingspan: 9.8–12.2 inches (25–31 cm).
Fun facts about Cardinals:
Male and female cardinals mate for life.
They are-non migratory and are year-round residents — even in the snow.
Cardinals are territorial and will chase other male cardinals away.
Early settlers in North America from Europe named the cardinals after Catholic cardinals because their bright red plumage reminded them of red robes worn by clergy.
Many people believe that cardinals represent a visit from a loved one who has passed away.
I’m thrilled to have Red and Mrs. take up residency in our backyard. I hope to see fledglings someday. But in the meantime, they are my favorite subjects to photograph.
Thanks to fellow blogger from Down Under Bushboy for suggesting I join the Bird of the Week challenge.
What facts about Cardinals were new to you? Do you have any to add?
We have cardinals, but I’ve never had one tell me breakfast was late. How cute is that!
😊
I have had Red sing loudly to me and I get outside and fill the bird feeder. He’s not shy about wanting his food. Yesterday the birdseed block was small after the birds devoured it for two days. Red grabbed it with his beak and moved it behind a cactus. Next Mrs. showed up. Grabbed it and flew with it over the fence in the direction of their nest.
He’s a good husband and father, that Red.
😉
I’m thinking they stole the food for babies….At least I’m hoping.
I pulled up the calls that Cardinals make and I was instantly transported back to the house I grew up in. My parents lived near the woods and we would hear tons of different birds – Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Robins and BlueJays. Your pix of Red and Mrs. make me think of home all the time. Interesting learning more about them.
Wow. Isn’t that something that the calls and songs were ones you heard as a child? They do have distinctive voices. A fellow blogger invited me to try the Bird of the Week challenge where people around the world share their bird photos and facts. This is the first one I’ve written for that project.
It’s appropriate that you start with Red and the Mrs. Ha, ha.
What else could I do? 😅
Thanks for adding this. It’s one of the few north Amercan birds I do know
The cardinals are well known because of their bright coloring. They stand out in my yard of mostly gray and brown birds.
Every time I see Red I wish that I lived somewhere that cardinals exist
I know cardinals are in Colorado but rare. They are more common here. I love the personalities of Red and Mrs. They aren’t shy!
Great photos of the happy couple, Elizabeth!! They sooo cute! 🥰
Thank you! My photos improved this past week thanks to my photographer friend. He told me to try shutter priority and increase my shutter speed to at least 500. I did and have much more detail.
That’s so sweet and funny that Red approached to ask for food! My FIL tosses birdseed out the window every morning and the doves and cardinals have started pecking at the window when he sleeps in, demanding breakfast.
I love this new series and all the fact, especially how cardinals got their name. I didn’t know that. And, it goes without saying, the pictures are fantastic!
Thanks so much about the photos and the new series. Bushboy from Australia commented that I’d like the Bird of the Week challenge. I get to research and learn more about our birds, plus read about other birds around the world. I’ve heard of birds pecking on the windows to get fed.
Beautiful closeups! I love the cardinals – their brightness seems so magical. We have a pair in our yard and the male feeds the female all the time.
Thank you for you compliments on my photos. Our male Red would feed Mrs. too. But now they take turns showing up in our yard. It makes me believe there is something else they are spending time with. Eggs or babies?
Hopefully lots of babies! : )
😊
A close encounter with Red — seems ripe for a kids’ book story! I love it!
That thought has crossed my mind!
The perfect Bird of the Week, one of my top favorite birds. Beautiful captures! I’m wishing you little cardinals chicks this Spring and lots of photos to share! ❤️🐦❤️
Thank you so much! Red and Mrs. are the stars of my backyard. Yes, I’m hoping for babies to photograph.
I just had my first sighting of baby quail right now!
How did I not know they’re not migratory? Good grief…makes me wonder how in the heck they stay warm in the depth of winter. Mating for life must be a necessity…birds of a feather, sticking together…for warmth! ❤️😊❤️
I read that they fluff their feathers. Find shelter in evergreens, plus eat a ton of food high in calories to stay warm. We don’t get too cold in Maricopa County, so they are literally living the “snowbird” life. 💕
Love it! ❤️😘❤️
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A visit from a loved one who has passed away. Our red has taken up residency again as the crows have left!
How wonderful the crows left and the cardinal returned. I did have a raven in the back yard a day ago. The first time I saw my cardinals was after my mom passed away.
These crows were enormous. They were a certain type of crow. I forget the name but it was interesting.
The raven was huge too. My photos didn’t turn out that good because he took up the entire frame and then some. I identified him as a raven and not a crow through his call on my Merlin app.
I love the one that you captured in flight! Wow! And they sing, marry for life, have enormous appetites! Hugs, C
Yes, you’ve given my cardinals a great description. Thanks for your compliment on my photography. My photographer friend suggested increasing my shutter speed. That helps with clarity plus stopping the flight photo.
This is a fabulous post Elizabeth. Now I know a bit more about Cardinals and have heard them. My birds didn’t care about the call, just went about their usual business lol
Thanks for the shout out as well 😀
Thank you for suggesting joining the group. At first, I felt like I was writing a term paper. But then Red made his fun appearance at my window. I did enjoy learning more about Cardinals, too.
That’s good you made some discoveries
I enjoyed the process. I had to start a day earlier then my normal posts to do research. FYI, I edited my post to add a link to your blog.
Thank you 😀
👍🏼
Red and Mrs. are both beautiful in their own ways. Great photos and interesting to learn the fun facts too!
Thanks. A fellow blogger from Australia who is a photographer suggested this weekly challenge to me. He goes by BushBoy if you want to check out his Bird of the Week or other photos.
Such beautiful photos of them. I like that Red came to you… like a dog or cat does when they want breakfast.
Isn’t that something? I was so surprised but thrilled.
every fact about them is new to me. I love that he went up to the window.
Yes, that was a thrilling moment to have Red fly up to my window and stare at me!
total highlight moment
Yes!