Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

  "EVEN ITS BEAK 

IS RED"

The Northern Cardinal's bright colouration is from the ingestion of foods that contain  carotinoid pigments, such as many seeds, wild fruit and berries. 

It ranges from southern

Canada to the Gulf Coast, including Mexico

and Belize.   It is said that is was named for the

red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.   Males feed females up to four times per minute through egg-laying and incubation. They are often wary of people, but males are often aggressive with their own reflections in windows.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder