Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). It’s no secret that I am totally crazy about winter. The black and white, pen and ink landscape takes me back to my childhood. Add a male Northern Cardinal to that beautiful landscape and you’ve got the perfect image.

The female Cardinal has her own beauty. Soft tawny brown with subtle accents of rich red and bright orange. A winged creature to marvel at.

The native range of the Cardinal is southeastern Canada through eastern North America including part of Texas, a small section of New Mexico, about half of Arizona, down through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. 

And with all the coming and going of other birds, the Cardinal does not migrate.

During the mating season male Cardinals become extremely territorial but come winter they will flock together by the dozen or several dozen. A stunning sight on a cold winter’s day.