Weekend Birding: Northern Cardinal
One of my favorite birds is the Northern Cardinal. They are not migratory and they don’t molt into a dull plumage like many of the other songbirds. They keep their vibrant colors year round and are a delight to see against the dull winter landscape. Cardinals are found in the Eastern and Central United States, Southern Canada and Mexico. Seven states claim the cardinal as their state bird.
I have several pairs that frequent the feeders in my yard although they often prefer to eat the seeds that have fallen on the ground. Their favorite seeds are safflower. If you want to attract cardinals, try serving this type of seed. As an added bonus, squirrels don’t much care for safflower; grackles and starlings don’t like it either.
Both the male and the female cardinal sing. That is unusual for song birds, usually only the male sings, but the female cardinal will sing to her mate and even sing while sitting on her nest.
Any day now the songbirds should begin singing again as they look for a mate. I can’t wait to hear those cheerful sounds for it means spring is near.
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Saturday Snapshots is hosted by Alyce. Head on over to At Home With Books to see more great photos or add your own.
Under My Apple Tree 
Lovely shots,
2010, was the first year that we did not make our annual 3 week trip to Florida, in December (thanks to recent economic disasters, and nothing to do with the eternally warm welcome we receive from the locals).
One of the best days out for us, is a visit to ‘Bok Tower Gardens’, where we would spend much of our time ensconced in their ‘hide’, binoculars and camera at the ready, waiting for the appearance of the wildlife, including the lovely cardinal.
Thanks for the memories your picture post evoked, hope to visit Florida again real soon!
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I’m glad you enjoyed them. I’ve been to Florida many times but have never been to Bok Tower Gardens. Next time I must stop in and check out the wildlife.
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I love cardinals as well — and for the same reasons. What a joy they are to see in the middle of winter, especially against the white of the snow. When I –well if I– ever have a yard, I will know to get safflower seeds 🙂
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It took me a while to figure out that they love safflower seeds… and only by accident. On the advice of the feed store I swapped out sunflower for safflower to discourage hordes of grackles and I ended up with House Finches and Cardinals… lots of them.
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The birds are gorgeous – i can not wait until our birds come back to Minnesota… I dont see very many this time of year.
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Unfortunately many of our birds here in Chicago leave us too. Migration starts in the next few weeks so hang in there. By mid March the Warblers should be arriving.
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I love your bird pictures. My mother’s mother died when I was five and the one thing I remember about her is that she taught me how to tell a male cardinal from a female cardinal, so these pictures are extra special.
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Thanks. The females have beautiful color too. Sometimes I think the greeting card companies don’t know what a female cardinal looks like, all we see are the red males.
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Oh, lovely, lovely lovely! I’ve been trying to get some pictures of cardinals, but the ones around here are too skittish. Every time I get all in position, camer ready, etc, they flit off.
Here’s my Snapshot: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/02/saturday-snapshot-february-18.html
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Cardinals are terribly difficult to photograph. I only have 5 or 6 really good ones. You have to hide in the yard with the camera ready and wait for them to show up. Then you can get off a few shots before they realize you are there.
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I still remember the first time I saw a cardinal (while walking around at George Washington’s estate). I didn’t realize it was a cardinal until it flew away. We don’t have them around here (Oregon) so I was pretty excited.
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Cardinals have been expanding their range and are now in southern Arizona, and California so it’s only a matter of time before they make it to Oregon although it may take many years.
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Oh, they are gorgeous! I love the colors and the wonderful clarity in your shot…you have talent!
Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thanks for talent compliment. I have no formal training, it’s mostly a hobby, but I would like to take some classes some day.
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I was raised in Ohio and the Cardinal is the state bird there, so I’ve always been partial it.
Great shots!
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What great pictures. We have seen a pair of cardinals at our feeder a few times this winter, but I can never capture them for posterity with my camera. Nice work!
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Such pretty birds! I love their red color. I will keep an eye out for safflower seeds, even though we may not have any cardinals here.
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I love these little critters, and could watch them for hours.
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I do love cardinals! I love their pointy little tufts on the tops of their heads. We had some around here for a few years but I’ve haven’t seen them lately. Thanks for the tip on the safflower seeds. Maybe that will temp them back.
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Cardinal are such sweet and lovely birds. We have a loyal couple that live near our back door.
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I always love seeing your photos! I am still trying to get a good one of our cardinals.
I was very happy to hear them start singing this past week instead of their winter “chipping” sounds!! (We still have several feet of snow on the ground here in NH.)
Thanks,
Jen
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My cardinals starting singing again too! I’ve been hearing them this week.
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What a lovely cardinal. We do not see them on the West coast.
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Wish the cardinals would come to Napa, ca.,!!
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