I've written before that spotting a cardinal in the wild is always an exciting and colorful moment. Many people call it the prettiest bird in the United States, and the fact that seven of our states call the avian their state bird probably makes that official.
Arizonans are lucky that the northern cardinal - its official name - calls their state home. And I am specifically fortunate that at least one pair lives in my central Phoenix neighborhood.
Occasionally I hear the melodious and repetitive call of the male, and if fast getting my camera, I can get a shot of him high in a backyard tree or even higher in some neighborhood palm trees just beyond my yard's wall. Recently, the female of the pair let me get some close shots of her in my lysiloma tree, allowing me some stealthy birding in the privacy of my own garden. Her call seemed less elaborate than her partner's, only sounding like a sharp and repetitive tweep.
The flash of the male's scarlet livery certainly stands out against the green landscaping in my community, especially compared to the drabber grays of the more numerous mockingbirds and browns of the plentiful thrashers. But even the female's buff coloring reminds anyone paying attention that the cardinal is a remarkably beautiful bird.
Arizonans are lucky that the northern cardinal - its official name - calls their state home. And I am specifically fortunate that at least one pair lives in my central Phoenix neighborhood.
Occasionally I hear the melodious and repetitive call of the male, and if fast getting my camera, I can get a shot of him high in a backyard tree or even higher in some neighborhood palm trees just beyond my yard's wall. Recently, the female of the pair let me get some close shots of her in my lysiloma tree, allowing me some stealthy birding in the privacy of my own garden. Her call seemed less elaborate than her partner's, only sounding like a sharp and repetitive tweep.
The flash of the male's scarlet livery certainly stands out against the green landscaping in my community, especially compared to the drabber grays of the more numerous mockingbirds and browns of the plentiful thrashers. But even the female's buff coloring reminds anyone paying attention that the cardinal is a remarkably beautiful bird.
 |
| Male cardinal in a neighborhood palm tree as seen from my Phoenix backyard. |
 |
| Male cardinal in a backyard tree. |
 |
| Male cardinal in a backyard tree. |
 |
| Female cardinal in my backyard's lysiloma tree. |
 |
| Female cardinal in my backyard's lysiloma tree. |
 |
| Female cardinal in my backyard's lysiloma tree. |
 |
| Female cardinal in my backyard's lysiloma tree. |
 |
| Female cardinal in my backyard's lysiloma tree. |
Comments
Post a Comment