February 25, 2026
Oh my! A spot of brilliant scarlet, against the stunning black and white landscape. A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) catches my attention as I travel aimlessly. The scene becomes a quilt of winter.
_______________________
If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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.
_______________________
If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
June 25, 2025
Something that I rarely see. A juvenile Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Black legs, black beak, and feathers that allow it to blend in with its surroundings.
It looks like an adult Cardinal though the coloring is wrong. Sometime between 2 and 4 weeks of age the juvenile will grow to the size of an adult Cardinal. Its beak stays black until its first molt in the autumn, when the beak becomes lighter and brighter and the feathers will turn red, or pale tannish brown with reddish streaks.
Nature seems to always surprise me with the new or the seldom seen.
_______________________
If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
January 16, 2025
A Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) yesterday, about to join in with friends enjoying the hulled sunflower seeds I’ve put out.
During the winter they’re gregarious birds. Both yesterday and today there were six Cardinals gathering the seeds along with many other species.
They’re birds that don’t migrate. Staying put in southeastern Canada, the eastern US from Maine to Minnesota to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona and southern California, south to Mexico, further to Belize and Guatemala.
_______________________
If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!