A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), hit by the sun at just the right angle and intensity, showing off her feathers at their best.

Cardinals are at their brightest coloring by midwinter/early spring, in preparation for the spring breeding season. They go through a complete molt in late summer, leaving them with not the brightest feathers but with feathers that have a subtle grayish dullness on the tips. As winter wears on, so do the feathers. Wearing off the dull tips revealing that brilliant red we know so well.

By midwinter/early spring the Cardinals will be ready for modeling for next year’s Christmas cards.

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