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Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

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42.4316, -75.3085

Field Notes

Description:

Male bright red with crest.

Habitat:

Woodland edges, thickets, brush swamps, gardens. Winters in northern region. (ref Audubon Society Field Guid to North American Birds Eastern Region

Notes:

Range: from the Dakotas, southern Ontario, Nova Scotia south to the Gulf Coast, and from southern Texas, Arizona, and southern California, southward into Mexico. Named after the red robes work by Roman Catholics cardinals.

Reference Links:

Cardinal (bird)

Species ID Suggestions

Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Reference Link
Cowboy Swami Shaman
1

Comments (7)
LauraMaria
Interesting! Seems it's very rare, and potentially an escapee/stow-away! I'd love it if we did have some cardinals here, would make me feel more at home :)
Cowboy Swami Shaman
sounds right - natural down coats... seems cardinals are in the uk birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=19036 try sunflower seeds in the birdfeeder...that's how they came here.
LauraMaria
Yup, the puffed out feathers trap a layer of air against the bird's skin, and the body heat warms up the air and gives it some nice insulation! What a cute picture, when I lived in Canada we had a lot of these! Don't get these lovely birds in the UK
alicelongmartin
That is always what I have understood, somehow they trap in more heat between the feathers.
TampaDave
I believe the birds puff up like that in the cold to keep warm.
Cowboy Swami Shaman
indeed. during the winter sometimes they look so fat, and other times, thin. I wonder if it is different birds or just that they change their shape for some reason.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
2011 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedMay 18, 2011

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