The Female Cardinal

The beautiful cardinal, the redbird - they're prevalent throughout the United States. The male is a bright red, the female just as beautiful but more dun-colored to more camouflage in the nest.

The babies, once they fledge, are all the color of the female, I assume for camouflage. That's why you seldom see small males. Eventually, before the season is over, the males molt and red feathers come in so they are then the brilliant, beautiful red we call redbirds.

Cardinals are in the family Cardinalidae and are passerine birds. They frequent most of North America. Personally, I have supported many generations of them in my back yard with the oiled sunflower seeds they love. Grown birds range from 4.7-inches, 40-ounces and up. (Info from Wikipedia)


AWARDS:

1. Photo of the Week, Animal and Wildlife Category, at BytePhoto.com, 7-27-15
2. Photo of the Day, Imaging-Resource.com, November 13, 2015
3. Won Wildlife in April Challenge, Viewbug.com, June 24, 2017


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