Perhaps the easiest bird to ID in the central and eastern parts of the United States is the Northern Cardinal.
With that bright red plumage, it’s also one of the most beautiful species and boasts no less than 7 State Bird titles across the US.
Cardinals are a relatively common sight to many as well since they will readily visit backyard feeders from Maine to Texas.
In fact, these handsome fellows are so common that they’re often overlooked by bird watchers. Hard to believe anyone could ignore a bright red bird lol!
Have you ever wondered why these birds are so richly hued?
The Cardinal’s signature crimson red colored feathers are a product of the birds diet of plants, fruits and seeds rich in carotenoids.
Although there are plenty of options for them to snack on in the wild, you can grow plants right in your own backyard to help your local Cardinals keep their bright color.
These guys love fruit like raspberries, blackberries and strawberries as these fruits are packed with the carotenoids the birds need. That being said, if you really want to impress your flock of backyard Cardinals, plant a a Dogwood as those red berries produced by this flowering tree are by far and away their favorite backyard treat.
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa #5Ds
