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January 28, 2009 - Today,
according to the weather reports, we are having
the worst snow storm of this winter. Among all
the frantic (goldfinches) and bickering (pine
siskins) we saw a pretty and welcome site. There is nothing like a bright red bird to
brighten an otherwise very white and cold day.
We always love to see our three cardinal pairs,
but they congregate at the safflower ground
feeder. We placed this near some distant bushes
for their safety, not for the convenience of
picture taking.
The cardinals in warmer weather primarily feed
at dawn and at dusk, making picture taking time
a near impossibility in that light. In winter
they feed frequently in order to have the energy
to maintain their body temperature. Because of
that and the sharp contrast with the snow, good
photos should be easier to capture. However,
they remain under as much cover as they can
find, since they are more exposed to predators.
Less tree coverage, longer eating time and
during bright day light, make the cardinals even
more cautious and elusive. So our shy birds are
just as difficult to photograph no matter what
the weather.
The cardinals feed peacefully with other ground
feeding birds. In our backyard they and the
rest of the ground crew, enjoy safflower, corn,
peanuts and sunflower seeds. This winter at
ground level we have usually been seeing a mixed
crowd of cardinals, mourning doves, juncos,
white throated sparrows, crows, and blue jays.
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Size:
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Length: 7.5-9 in
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Weight: 1.6 oz |
Wingspan: 12in |
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ID:
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Male: Overall bright red with pointed
crest; black mask and throat; short,
conical, red bill; gray feet
anisodactylous (three toes point forward
and one toe points backward)
Female:Shaped like male but buff-brown
with reddish crest, wings, and tail;
bill is reddish-orange; mask is grayish
black
Juvenile: Similar to female but bill is
blackish
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Habitat:
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Forest edges; thickets; backyards and
parks
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Diet:
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Searches ground and low shrubs for
seeds, insects and berries; ground
feeders for cracked corn, sunflower
seeds, and safflower seeds
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits: Monogamous and
solitary; male feeds female during
courtship and while incubating; males
very territorial and may even attack own
reflection; pair remain in close contact
all year, singing to each other; 2-3
broods per year
Local Breeding Period: Late March to
Early May
Nests:Female builds cup-shaped nest of
twigs and leaves and lines with
grass and hair; placed in low tree or
bush
Eggs:3-4 pale bluish greenish with
brown and purple blotches; mostly female
incubates 12-13 days (fed by the male)
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless,
naked, eyes closed) and stay in nest
12-13 days; fed by both parents; male
may tend fledglings while female
incubates next set of eggs
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Social Activities:
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Gregarious; joins winter mixed
species flocks foraging for food
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Range:
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Eastern and southwestern US
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Vocalization:
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Song is what cheer cheer cheer or
birdy birdy birdy; call is a metallic
chip
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| Sighted in our
Backyard: |
Year round |
| Lifespan: |
Up to 16 years |
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