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Northern Cardinal


Northern Cardinal
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 200, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/160 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Red or Rosy Feathered Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-25 8:08
Viewed: 2901
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Happy Christmas to all my friends of TrekNature ! Here's a female Northern Cardinal(Cardinalis cardinalis 19-23 cm) taken in my garden.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

The brilliantly colored Northern Cardinal has the record for popularity as a state bird: in the United States, it holds that title in seven states. This common bird is a winter fixture at snow-covered bird feeders throughout the Northeast, but it only spread to New York and New England in the mid-20th century.

Description

Medium-sized songbird.
Large crest on head.
Heavy, conical red bill.
Face surrounded by black.
Male entirely brilliant red.
Female grayish-tan with red tail and wings.

Size: 21-23 cm (8-9 in)
Wingspan: 25-31 cm (10-12 in)
Weight: 42-48 g (1.48-1.69 ounces)
Sex Differences
Male brilliant red, female tan.

Sound
Song a series of clear whistles, the first down-slurred and ending in a slow trill. "Cheer, cheer, cheer, what, what, what, what." Call a sharp "chip."


Conservation Status
Population density and range increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. The cardinal benefits from park-like urban habitats and the presence of bird feeders. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.

Other Names
Cardinal rouge (French)
Cardenal rojo, Cardenal norteño, Cardenal común (Spanish)


Cool Facts

Population density and range of the Northern Cardinal has increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.


The female Northern Cardinal sings, often from the nest. The song may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.


The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.


Brighter red males hold territories with denser vegetation, feed at higher rates, and have greater reproductive success than duller males
nglen, eqshannon, Arjun, fiyo, earthtraveler, CeltickRanger, ramthakur, dejo, Evelynn, Adanac, marhowie, uleko, jaycee, angybone, Luis52, valy67, mariki, Argus, NinaM, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-12-25 8:12]

Hi Mario. Happy Christmas fron England.
This is again a very good close up of a beautiful looking bird. very good colours and detail. I like the pose you have captured with its head turned around. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a good Day my friend.

La viva, la viva, la viva! Sorry couldn't help myself...Very nice...almost with back turned on the old year and welcoming the new eh? Your life is for the birds!:-)
Bob

Hello Mario,
As he or she is indicating "look at my colourful back" and take a photograph if you want...:-). Ii is a 'she' of course...
Well done
TFS
Annick
Merry Christmas!

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2007-12-25 8:18]

Merry Christmas Mario!!
What a great shot!
The POV is very original and you have pulled it off superbly!
Nice colours and great lighting.
As usual the photo is very sharp and full of detail.
Have a great day!
Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 257 W: 1 N: 330] (2032)
  • [2007-12-25 8:30]

Hi Mario, thanks for sharing your great birds with us. Enjoy the holidays. Regards Reina

  • Great 
  • Arjun Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 358 W: 7 N: 1237] (7593)
  • [2007-12-25 9:45]

hi mario,
lovely...cute picture,
TFS

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2007-12-25 10:00]

Hello Mario,
Nice shot,lovely detail and colours,nice composition.
Very well done.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Hello my friend Mario,
Wonderful back pose of the Cardinal to see the total sharpness and clarity on the plummage, just amazing and beautiful!
sincerely wishing you
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
many thanks for everything
friend Tony

Hi Mario,
Fine capture of this female Cardinal.
I like the wing feather symetry you acheived with this POV.
Sweet pose also with her looking over her shoulder at you.
Beautiful color and detail as always.
Merry Christmas to you also.
Richard

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2007-12-25 15:07]

It seem a little hungry ! Tell him : don't worry,be happy,it's Christmas !! Thanks for share,luciano

salut Mario

très belle photo, belle pose du femelle cardinal,
d'excellent détails, mais c'est là que je vais être
plus sévère dans ma critique (héhé rire),
j'aurais aimé vois un cadrage horizontal
avec plus d'espace vers le cardinal regarde

TFS

Asbed

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too, Mario!
Thanks a lot for sharing this great image of the Northern Cardinal on the festive occasion. The bird looks very chrming from this perspective and the colors are beautiful.
Warm regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 344 W: 51 N: 520] (2242)
  • [2007-12-25 17:58]

Hi Mario
very nice portrait and great composition, colors are beautiflly capture
like the framing too
best wishes
regards, Dejan

You captured a superb pose this time Mario. I really like it. I also like the presentation a lot. It is perfect. Ahhhh... what does one do after one has reached the pinnacle of perfection...???

Thanks for this Christmas present.

Evelynn : )

Her backside looks very nice Mario :)
Well composed, sharp detail..A great winter image mf.
Howard

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-12-26 6:00]

Hello Mario,
I hope you've had a lovely Christmas! This is a wonderful hind view of the female Northern Cardinal in a fine pose on a log. The sharp details of the beautiful plumage are most impressive and the colours are fantastic and look so good against the grey background.
Excellent work!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-12-26 8:18]

Hi Mario,

How wonderful that she turned her face for you. A lovely female Cardinal and we get a chance for a good look at her back as well. Excellent colors and details and an unusual shot.

Jane

What a beauty!
I love the view from the back...very realistic. Natural colors and great sharpness.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2007-12-26 20:51]

Hola Mario. Muy fina la foto. La pose es exelente y la nitidez de alto nivel. Muy agradables los colores del plumaje y un fondo realmente bello.
Saludos Mario.
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 154 W: 1 N: 6] (251)
  • [2007-12-26 22:26]

Salut Mario,
Comme dit Eveline, c'est de la perfection. Couleurs et
composition sont parfaites.
Bonne année de photo.
Roger

Hello mario !
This is such a beautiful bird ! I love his red beak and the touches of red in his plumage. Excellent details, nice natural colors, beautiful composition and POV, and I also like the pose of the bird, looking at you over his back. Very well done !
Valerie.

Bonjour Mario,

Belle pose de ce cardinal. Très jolie composition. Bonne netteté et belles couleurs.
Amicalement,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-12-27 6:10]

Hello Mario,
I hope you had a good Christmas.
Cute shot of a female Northern cardinal taken from behind: I like the way she turns her head in this excellent composition. Fine low POV and superb sharpness.
Best wishes for 2008 with many photos!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 773 W: 3 N: 1157] (4077)
  • [2007-12-27 15:49]

Wow Mario, cette photo est un chef d'oeuvre. La luminosité est fantastique, j'adore cette photo, c'est un superbe contrejour naturel avec la beauté de la cardinal mise à l'honneur. Félicitations maestro!

francine

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2007-12-27 19:14]

Hello Mario,
Nice composition, with Mario details and colors. Razor sharp focus and great exposure, result in an excellent image, thanks Mario.
Rick

  • Great 
  • gail Gold Star Critiquer [C: 78 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-12-27 19:44]

HI Mario,
This presentation is lovely. The colors are so soft. Nice background also.
Gail

Bonjour Mario,

La prise de vue arrière du cardinal est très réussi, il ne semble pas inquiet de la présence du photographe. On distingue bien les détails et couleurs du plumage. Une belle réussite, merci du partage.

Pierre

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