Image #168 – Female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

The flock of Northern Cardinals continues to populate my feeders and they are a joy to see.  I am accustomed to seeing Cardinals as couples and I was surprised to learn that flocks are common in the winter months.  With four males and three (maybe four) females they certainly bring some lovely color to an increasingly bleak landscape.  

This female has beautiful color in her wings. At first I wasn’t sure if she was a juvenile or an adult. It is the crest that tells the difference and she obligingly shook her head revealing a crest of a delightfully punkish orange.  On a juvenile there would be no color and a brownish crown as opposed to a crest.  So, I would say she is a young adult. ❧