Throughout the year, hardly a day goes by that I don’t see a bright red cardinal in my yard or neighborhood — which means that I’ve seen cardinals thousands and thousands of times over the years.
Yet, I never tire of seeing the beautiful birds, which live year-round in Georgia. Cardinals don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re breathtaking all year, even on the drabbest winter days.
It’s hard to take my eyes off a cardinal when I see one. The male’s brilliant red plumage and distinctive black mask clearly stand out, especially on a cold, wintry day. Even the female’s paler tan plumage is striking against her red bill and reddish markings.
Their sparkling year-round colors may be why cardinals seem to be the songbirds most associated with winter. It’s probably no coincidence that the songbird calendars I hang in my office each year invariably feature a cardinal for January.
During the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts, which begin in mid-December, it’s a sure bet that the cardinal will rank at or near the top for the species with the highest number of individuals tallied.
Maybe it’s because they are so common that we often take cardinals for granted. If they did not live in Georgia, and instead existed only in a tropical rain forest in a distant land, many of us probably would travel long ways just to get a glimpse of the dazzling creatures.
This time of year, cardinals — as it is with most of our winter songbirds — begin gathering in small, loose flocks, probably family groups that have stayed together after the young are grown and able to care for themselves. Benefits of flocking include better protection from predators and more eyes to find food sources.
Both sexes can be found in the same flocks, which are mostly quiet except for a sharp, distinctive “chip.” On bright, sunny winter days, however, you may hear an individual cardinal singing.
Come early February, cardinal flocks will start breaking up, and males — and females — will begin heralding the nesting season with bright, bubbly song.
To encourage cardinals to your yard this winter, put black oil sunflower seeds in your feeder. Cardinals also like safflower seeds and white milo. Add a suet feeder to provide extra energy for the cardinals and other birds. And don’t forget water: birds also need a clean water source in winter.
IN THE SKY: The moon will be last quarter on Monday, said David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer. Mercury is very low in the east just before dawn. Venus is in the west just after dark and sets about three hours later. Mars rises out of the east about four hours before dawn. Jupiter rises out of the east at dusk and is visible all night.
