Cardinal.......

Friday morning the temperatures were very cool and the birds were out in full force looking for food. It was a great day for photos at the feeders :-)With the year moving into dreary winter, it is easy to see why the cheerful red Cardinal was chosen as the state bird of 7 states: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
While the female isn't as handsome red as the male, she is beautiful in her own way with her red beak and red tinges to her feathers.

I call these next three photos "Mother and Daughter". The one on top of the fountain is a full adult female. The one on the rim is a youngster whose beak isn't red yet.

All of my birds have been so thirsty this year! I think our lack of rain has affected where they can find good water, so they have been at my fountain constantly each day.

I was surprised that I still have one young enough that its beak isn't red yet. Must be the youngest one out there.

"What kind of bird are you?"

I think the male cardinal was puzzled by his "rival" at the suet.

The Cardinals don't often visit the suet feeder. They prefer cracking seeds with those heavy beaks and feed mostly on the ground or suitable feeders. They love the sunflower seeds.

"Hmmmm....I think this guy needs a pretty crest like mine."

This is more typical Cardinal feeding behavior....digging in the leaves for whatever it can find.

They mostly hang out with the House Sparrows, but my Goldfinches have been flying with them, too. They will share at a feeder....unlike some of the greedy birds.

Anywhere they can sit and eat makes them happy. They are very nervous birds and the slightest movement sends them flying away. They often move if they see my focusing light.

Taking a high position with a House Sparrow friend. Probably on guard for the hawk. They are very good at sending out warnings for people, cats, hawks, etc.