Northern Cardinal

One benefit of living here in Omaha is hearing the wonderful sound of the Northern Cardinal. When we first moved here, I could here the song from this lovely bird, but it took me a bit to find where it was coming from. Now I can hear them and usually spot where they are calling from. They are a beautiful species and I love to hear them and listen to them. The male and female mate for life, and court each other throughout the season. During this time, the male will feed the female seeds beak to beak...its rather precious to watch.
The male's song is to show his territory to other males and the louder and more intense the call, the closer a predator is coming which warns the female. I have enjoyed watching how they take care of each other throughout the season. Where there is a male, a female is usually close by. We have big mature tree's of all types around our house, so we usually have a lot of activity. Here are some pictures that I took this year after a snow fall. The female came over once and then went back to the nest, but he sat and was posing for me while I snapped pictures inside the house. He was rather lovely. I had to crack the window a bit so I could listen to him sing.
Here is a little clip of what a cardinal sounds like.


She is on the left...notice how her coloring is a lighter red with brown coloring. He is very vibrant red and black making his position known. Much like with other species he draws danger away from the female and the nest.

Here he is...all proud and showing off!!!