Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). A frequent visitor to my feeders and in other parts of this world they’re found in southeastern Canada, throughout eastern US from Maine to Minnesota, to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, southern California, and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

I think of Northern Cardinals as birds that eat seeds and fruit, but during the summer they also eat insects, spiders and invertebrates. They can have all they want here at my cabin, including Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs, please.

During the breeding season these Cardinals are very territorial, but during the winter they become accepting of other Cardinals, nesting together for warmth and protection. That protection is more important during the winter since their color stands out dramatically against the black and white of the winter forest, and against snow.

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