Male Northern Cardinal

Written By: - NONE - | Issue: 2015/12 - December | Photograph By: Ed Boos, Photographer

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a fairly large songbird, rare in the Western U.S., which neither migrates nor changes color by molding. The male is a commanding red, the female dull brown with red highlights. Both are crested with black faces and red beaks. They are common on bird feeders offering sunflower seeds. The song is varied and the call hits a high note with tik, tik or a rising twik.