The northern cardinal is one of the most common and easily identifiable songbirds in North America. With a range that stretches from the Mississippi River basin to the Atlantic and from Nova Scotia to most of Mexico, what used to be considered a southern bird has greatly extended its range northward over the past 100 years. Deforestation and suburban sprawl have been kind to the cardinal giving, it the open areas it prefers and the cover it needs. Male cardinals are bright red with a black patch around their bill—this red color comes from the carotenoids found in the fruit and berries they devour. Female cardinals are a less vibrant fawn-color with hints of red on their wings and crest. Cardinals have two to four broods of eggs per season, and while the female spends her time incubating the newest set of eggs, the male’s job is to feed the previous nestlings a steady diet of insects.

–Tim Curley