A Ruby-Red Cardinal at the Feeder

This male Northern Cardinal is in the height of his glory feather color-wise.  Nesting season is when the birds, especially so for the males, don their brightest and most handsome colors.  This is to impress the female birds, even if the female is already the male’s mate.  So hubba-hubba, this Northern Cardinal is spectacular in the sunlight at the bird feeder.  He has learned to find tasty bird seeds such as the Sunflower Seed, cracked Corn, and Millet.

The only thing that occasionally changes his plans is the bully bird, a male Red-Winged Blackbird.  That Blackbird is quite territorial about the feeder which he has claimed.  So the cardinal works around the comings and goings of the Blackbird!  I took these pictures from my living room window on April 30, 2012.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!