Red Tide

The Northern Cardinal is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis; it can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico. It is found in woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and swamps.

The northern cardinal is a mid-sized songbird. It has a distinctive crest on the head and a mask on the face which is black in the male and gray in the female. The male is a vibrant red, while the female is a dull red-brown shade. The northern cardinal is mainly granivorous, but also feeds on insects and fruit. During courtship, the male feeds seed to the female beak-to-beak. A clutch of three to four eggs is laid, and two to four clutches are produced each year. It was once prized as a pet, but its sale as a cage bird is now banned in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

The diet of the northern cardinal consists mainly (up to 90%) of weed seeds, grains, and fruits. It is a ground feeder and finds food while hopping on the ground through trees or shrubbery. It eats beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers, snails, wild fruit and berries, corn (maize) and oats, sunflower seeds.

The Northern Cardinals are very popular and favorite of the public because their wonderful appearance and strikingly beautiful colors. I’ve been blessed to have several cardinal families nesting in my backyard. It’s always a treat to see them flying around looking pretty and ready to pose for my photos.

“My neighbors never cease to ask me, what do I do to attract them?. I don’t know what to tell them anymore!”

Photo Gallery

Tags: birds, nature, Northern Cardinal, photography, photos of birds

25 thoughts on “Red Tide”

Boeta: RumblingOcean & Having fun with camera blogs on April 16, 2015 at 9:58 am said:

Wonderful again.

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 12:32 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Boeta! 🙂
  
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Dorinda Duclos on April 16, 2015 at 11:08 am said:

My Favorite bird! We get several throughout Spring and Summer and thru Winter. Just a stunning sight against the snow.

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 12:33 pm said:
  
  Thank you for sharing Dorinda! 🙂
  
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absengeralois on April 16, 2015 at 11:13 am said:

Super!

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 12:33 pm said:
  
  Thanks Alois! 🙂
  
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weisserwatercolours on April 16, 2015 at 11:38 am said:

so lovely

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 12:34 pm said:
  
  Thank you Lance! 🙂
  
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Lisa Rest on April 16, 2015 at 12:57 pm said:

Gorgeous! I love the girls in particular. 🙂

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 1:16 pm said:
  
  Thank you Lisa! 🙂
  
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christinavarga on April 16, 2015 at 12:57 pm said:

I SO wish we had cardinals in the West! I remember visiting my uncle in Kansas when I was 12 or so. One morning we were sitting on the back porch eating breakfast, and 3-4 of them came up to a feeder he had hanging on the eaves. We watched in awe, they are so beautiful!

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 1:18 pm said:
  
  Oh yes, they are beautiful! Thank you Christina for sharing! 🙂
  
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hadorable on April 16, 2015 at 2:24 pm said:

wow, impressive! Like burning fire
Great captures as always

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 3:01 pm said:
  
  Thanks Ha! 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on April 16, 2015 at 5:39 pm said:

Yes these birds do seem to be posing, more than other Cardinal shots I have seen, they are very lovely pics and beautiful birds, thanks for sharing!

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 6:25 pm said:
  
  Thank you Ashley! 🙂
  
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Just Jude on April 16, 2015 at 6:08 pm said:

We had a lot of Cardinals on the farm in Michigan. I don’t see as many up on the hill, where I live. There is plenty of favored ground in the valley.
Maybe they know that you are posting photos in a blog and are showing off. ; )

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 6:26 pm said:
  
  Oh you found out their secret Judy! Thanks!
  
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  - Just Jude on April 16, 2015 at 6:27 pm said:
    
    Welcome!
cindy knoke on April 16, 2015 at 6:29 pm said:

glorious~

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- avian101 on April 16, 2015 at 7:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks Cindy! 🙂
  
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Tiny on April 17, 2015 at 10:48 am said:

A beautiful bird…and so much better to see them in freedom! Great gallery!

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- avian101 on April 17, 2015 at 12:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Tiny! 🙂
  
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45DegreesNorth on April 18, 2015 at 8:59 pm said:

A perennial favorite! Very sweet photos, H.J.!

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- avian101 on April 18, 2015 at 9:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks Amy! 🙂
  
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