Nature Photography by Gary D.Tonhouse
Iowa Birds
Northern Cardinal 

Northern Cardinal

© Gary D.Tonhouse  1997 - 2008

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis


Description: 8-9" male bright red with crest, black face stout red bill, female buff-brown, tinged with red on crest, wings and tail 


Habitat: Woodland edges, fields, thickets, brushy undergrowth, suburbs, gardens, feeders with sunflower seeds, swamps, 
desert washes, riparian areas.
Very common in the east.
 


Nesting: 3-4 pale green eggs spotted with red-brown in a deep cup of twigs, leaves and plant fibers concealed in a thicket


Range: resident of eastern US
south to Gulf Coast


Diet: insects, fruit, and seeds


Voice: rich what-cheer, cheer-cheer; purty-purty-purty-purty or
sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet also a metallic chip


Notes: species named after red robes worn by Roman Catholic Cardinals, occupy territory year-round, forms winter flocks of 60-70
 


Equipment used to capture this image:
Camera: Nikon D1
Lens: Nikor 500mm F4
Tripod: Gitzo 320 with Bogen Ball Head
Film: Setting on camera was FINE an ISO of 200

This photo was captured from the observation deck at Saylorville Visitor Center.
This is a great area to do winter bird photography. The Audobon Society maintains
many bird feeders in the area and the birds are somewhat acuminated  to humans.

 

 

Landscape Gallery Nature Photography by Gary D.Tonhouse Snow Goose Migration

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