We have had a lot of Cardinals lately. Many of them are young birds. You can tell because they still have some fledgling feathers and they look like teenage Cardinals. The boy in the set looks nearly full-grown, but the Lady looks recently post nestling.
The lady Cardinals go through a lot more color changes than the boys. The boys turn red and stay red. But the girls are first a kind of light taupe or beige and develop color in their wings and face and tail as they mature. They are also a lot more variable in their coloring.
Share this:
Categories: #Birds, #gallery, #Photography, Anecdote, Cardinal, Wildlife
GOLDFINCHES AND A CARDINAL 
THANKSGIVING FOR THE FEATHERED AND FURRY 
BIRD WEEKLY – PHOTO CHALLENGE – BIRDS ON A WIRE OR A FENCE 
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
They’re beautiful!
LikeLike
They are lovely. I took these pictures just a couple of days ago — maybe last Friday? They have all grown a lot since then. It is amazing how fast these go from babies to full-grown.
LikeLike
They’re beautiful birds – I wish we got them here in the UK!
LikeLike
You do have some that must have been introduced. I don’t know if it’s just one that escaped (what was he doing there anyway?) — and someone decided you needed your own Northern Cardinals,
https://www.birdforum.net/threads/northern-cardinal-in-a-uk-backyard.19036/
has pictures and other peoples’ comments about it. IF they were “introduced,” you’ll probably start seeing them. They breed frequently and are very feeder-friendly. This one was spotted in Devon.
LikeLike
It’s wonderful to follow – under your tutorial their development. Thank you so much.
LikeLike
Thanks. I’m hoping to interest enough people in feeding birds to make a difference. We’ve cut down so much of their natural territory, all birds are having a hard time.
LikeLiked by 1 person