Red Gallery – Northern Cardinal | H.J. Ruiz

Northern cardinal males normally metabolize carotenoid pigments to create plumage pigmentation of a color different from the ingested pigment. When fed only yellow pigments, males become a pale red color. A few “yellow morph” cardinals lack the enzyme to do this conversion. Their beak and feathers (except for black face mask) are yellow. Sightings are rare.

12 thoughts on “Red Gallery – Northern Cardinal”

Indira on December 22, 2018 at 8:28 am said:

Handsome Mr and lovely Mrs 🙂

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H.J. for avian101 on December 22, 2018 at 3:19 pm said:

Thanks Indira! 🙂

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tootlepedal on December 22, 2018 at 4:17 pm said:

Good shots, HJ.

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- H.J. for avian101 on December 22, 2018 at 5:09 pm said:
  
  Thanks Tom! 🙂
  
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sv-anui.com on December 22, 2018 at 4:34 pm said:

Very interesting info about the pigmentation, HJ!

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- H.J. for avian101 on December 22, 2018 at 5:09 pm said:
  
  Thank you Chris! 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on December 22, 2018 at 6:58 pm said:

What an interesting color variant, H.J. Did he/she visit your feeder?

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H.J. for avian101 on December 22, 2018 at 7:42 pm said:

Of course! They all do, their nests have been in my backyard for 12 years. There are about 6 families living there. They do not migrate. 🙂

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Mags on December 23, 2018 at 3:39 pm said:

Beautiful captures…my favorites the last two…they are amazing.

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- H.J. for avian101 on December 23, 2018 at 4:34 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Mags! 🙂
  
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bayphotosbydonna on December 23, 2018 at 10:06 pm said:

Nice “Red” shots, HJ! 🙂

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- H.J. for avian101 on December 23, 2018 at 10:57 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Donna. 🙂
  
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