Red Bird

Northern cardinals are common throughout the eastern United States from Maine to Florida and continuing west to southern Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas... more

by Helene Guertin

Title

Red Bird

Artist

Helene Guertin

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

Northern cardinals are common throughout the eastern United States from Maine to Florida and continuing west to southern Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas and the eastern half of Mexico. These birds prefer dense woodland cover but can easily be found in suburban areas. Northern cardinals do not migrate. Male northern cardinals are noted for their aggression, which can be observed through feeder domination or chasing other cardinals away from different territories. Northern cardinals will also fight their own reflections in windows, mirrors and other reflective surfaces, often exhausting or injuring themselves in the process if the surface is not covered. Cardinal pairs are monogamous and have a feeding courtship ritual in which the female bird mimics the behavior of a nestling and the male bird offers her seeds or berries. The male will also care for the female while she tends the nest. One pair of birds may raise 2-4 broods annually of 3-4 eggs each. Eggs are incubated by the female for 12-14 days, and the altricial hatchlings will leave the nest in 9-12 days. Keywords are, Cardinal, male cardinal, snow, berries, nature, natural, twigs, woodland, wild, red, forest, country, northern cardinal, song birds, songbirds, winter, feathers, feather, north america, watercolor paintings, watercolor painting, paintings, painting, digitally painted, red bird,

Uploaded

February 20th, 2015