Puffed Up Against The Cold

January 22, 2026

All set for the snow a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) puffed up against the cold, is filling up on hulled sunflower seeds that I’ve put out.

Many birds, including Cardinals are wise when it comes to the weather. They have unique senses which enable them to detect air pressue, temperature and wind. This allows them to prepare for the challenging weather by heavily foraging to build up fat reserves before the heavy snow or drenching rain arrives.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

2 thoughts on “Puffed Up Against The Cold”

  1. A beautiful bird that we see all year. I never tire of seeing the cardinals. I wish we were able to share pictures with you. Hope you’re staying warm. We are waiting for the big storm that’s heading our way this weekend. Take care.

  2. puffed up is not enough in many parts of US this week. Temps in negative zero range mean the birds are huddled in thickets, using some of their seed cache as needed. Can’t wait to have them return to my feeders.

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