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Northern Cardinal


Northern Cardinal
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Volkan's Best [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-10-20 5:58
Viewed: 4812
Favorites: 11 [view]
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Here is a shot of a female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis, 19-23 cm) that I took yesterday at the feeders in the garden. The sky was overcast but the light was not too bad. The female is usually a little bit more nervous than the male so I was glad that she stayed a bit at the feeder !

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

The brilliantly colored Northern Cardinal has the record for popularity as a state bird: in the United States, it holds that title in seven states. This common bird is a winter fixture at snow-covered bird feeders throughout the Northeast, but it only spread to New York and New England in the mid-20th century.

Description

Medium-sized songbird.
Large crest on head.
Heavy, conical red bill.
Face surrounded by black.
Male entirely brilliant red.
Female grayish-tan with red tail and wings.

Size: 21-23 cm (8-9 in)
Wingspan: 25-31 cm (10-12 in)
Weight: 42-48 g (1.48-1.69 ounces)
Sex Differences
Male brilliant red, female tan.

Sound
Song a series of clear whistles, the first down-slurred and ending in a slow trill. "Cheer, cheer, cheer, what, what, what, what." Call a sharp "chip."


Conservation Status
Population density and range increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. The cardinal benefits from park-like urban habitats and the presence of bird feeders. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.

Other Names
Cardinal rouge (French)
Cardenal rojo, Cardenal norteño, Cardenal común (Spanish)


Cool Facts

Population density and range of the Northern Cardinal has increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.


The female Northern Cardinal sings, often from the nest. The song may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.


The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.


Brighter red males hold territories with denser vegetation, feed at higher rates, and have greater reproductive success than duller males.
fartash, nglen, uleko, ellis49, MMM, Pentaxfriend, CeltickRanger, eqshannon, pierrefonds, tiklod, bobair, Christian76, wingle has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Thanks Evelynn !EOSF1 2 10-22 22:16
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-10-20 6:08]

Hello Mario,
This is so good! Just perfect. Details, colours, environment, POV, composition, light, DOF, BG, ...etc...etc... Very high quality!
Regards,
Peter

Bonjour Mario,
WoW!! Quelle belle photo de ce Cardinal ,couleurs,composition,nettetée,détails ...etc,WoW, si tu me permets je l'inscris dans mes favoris. bon weekend.
Michel

Hello Mario
What a great shot of this Northern Cardinal,
Perfect details,exposure and composition,
Fantastic colors and POV,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Beautiful shot. Good clarity. I'm not too sure about the spacing though. Looks like it needs some more space around the bird. Maybe it's the way the tailfeather offsets it. Anyway; excellent shot. I'd love to see one of these birds. You're a lucky man Mario.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-10-20 6:58]

Hi mario. Once again you have a fine capture of this beautiful bird. your shrp focusing showing all the fine detail in the feathers. she has nice markings you have shown them so well. very good colours. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

hello mario,
another wonderful capture, lovely colours, nice bg, sharp image with good details of the plumage,
well done once again,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Whata beauty, and you took a great shot here. Excellent!!

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 0 N: 172] (2441)
  • [2007-10-20 7:29]

Excellent portrait and wonderful composition. Colors are bight and natural, sharp and detail are amazing

Hola Mario, como veo siempre en la portada de Treknature tu "green heron" con mi "flamenco II" mee decidía a entrar en tu galería... y es fantástica !!
Ese Cardinalis te quedó perfecto con una sorprendente y natural luz, al igual que los colores. Una maravilla.
Un saludo: J. Ignasi

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-10-20 7:46]

Hello Mario,
This is outstanding and one of the best bird shots I've seen on TN! I love the pose of the bird, details are razor sharp and colours wonderful. I like the contrasting dark background too. A fine composition and the frame fits very nicely.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

nice pic with great light, TFS Ori

Wow Mario,
Very beautiful lady Cardinal, great POV, Dof and very
well composed.. Superb Picture

Everton

Hi Mario,
a beautiful shot of a beautiful bird, the colours are very nice. You have manage to catch him in a vert nice moment.
Sharpness and exposure are spot on.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1114 W: 0 N: 2546] (11425)
  • [2007-10-20 11:04]

Salut Mario
Quel belle image de ce cardinal.Quel beau détails et quelle jolie couleurs.L'image est d'une netteté parfaite.L'arriere plan sombre est éaglement tres jolie.Tres belle et bonne présentation.
Merci Michel

Hi Mario,

WooooW what a BEAUTY

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 154 W: 1 N: 6] (251)
  • [2007-10-20 15:41]

Salut Mario,
Superbe photo. Le détail du plumage, le contraste et les couleurs font de cette photo une photo parfaite.
Merci, Roger

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 503 W: 43 N: 657] (2178)
  • [2007-10-20 16:03]

Wow Mario! So Beautiful! Excellent in all manner. This one's a real winner! Great job!

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 169 W: 48 N: 548] (2877)
  • [2007-10-20 16:11]

Bonjour Mario,
Belle photo de cette femelle cardinal. Excellente netteté, j'adore les détails du plumage et le bg flou.
Bravo!
Lise

salut Mario

quelle superbe photographie,
par le superbe arrière-plan, les superbes belles couleurs,
l'excellent netteté et détails et surtout par ce superbe cadrage
j'aime beaucoup cette espace laissé en avant où regarde
ce superbe cardinal rouge femelle, TFS

Asbed

Hi Mario,
Beautiful shot of a cardinal, great sharp photo and love the beautfiul brillant color . TFS
Donna:o)

ooooh... you have the fabled 40D!!!!!!!! So how do you like it?

I can see that I have to get busy with my Canon 100-400 lens. That is so sharp. I guess you were pretty close and didn't have to crop much. It is a really lovely shot. I wish we had cardinals near by.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-10-20 21:23]

Hello Mario

Wow what a beautiful image of this female cardinal.The females are so shy,they rarely put themselves in the open here so they are difficult to capture.This shot is so well focused and sharp the plumage detail is superb.Wonderful eye contact.The colours are rich and well saturated.Nicely composed.TFS

Rob

Hello Mario,
Those guys always seem so alert..!
Always on the toes, always giving a great pose...
Super details in the plumage, every hair in every feather is visible!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Bonjour mario,

Une bonne prise de vue de ce cardinal femelle sur la buche, la photo a une bonne composition, netteté et de belles couleurs. Bonne journée.

Pierre

Mario;
It almost looks too real. Amazing how you do this wonderful images. I am sometimes speechless. I have rarely seen better work, perhaps in some professional magazines.
Bob

Encore une réussite de cette femelle cardinal, netteté, couleurs, tout est parfait, tu as beaucoup de chance qu'ils soient près de chez-vous leur chant est tellemement mélofieux.
Meci
Marie

Hi mario,
What a beauty and with that I mean both the photo and the bird. The warm colors of the entire photo are very pleasant to look at. The details in the plumage are simply amazing. I love the inclusion of the conifer tree since it adds an extra color and something else to look at. Love the dark colored BG.
TFS,
Niek

Salut Mario,
Tout simplement P-A-R-F-A-I-T !!! :-)
Autant de détails dans une même photo c'est presque pas croyable!
Bravo encore! - ET CONTINUE DE NOUS FAIRE PLAISIR

Claude

Wouaw, un seul mot: superbe !!!!

Hi Mario,
most people like the male of this species better but I rather like the females better.The reason is they have more going on in their plumage than do the males.There is more in the way of colours and subtle details that I just like better is all.This is a well detailed,focus and coloured shot of this lovely bird.Thanks for sharing it with us. Bob

Elle avait l'air de mauvaise humeur la petite mère! ;o)
Jolie photo expressive et colorée.

Merci

Servane

Salut Mario
Encore une superbe photo, et quelle netteté.
C'est du grand art.
Bravo
Amicalement
Christian

Hi Mario,
Incredible!!! Superb sharpness and detail, expert exposure, fantastic composition and POV with lovely colors. My compliments and one of my favorites!
Wing

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2008-09-22 22:20]

bonjour mario!
une photo d'une netette suprebe avec des bonnes detailles!
les couleurs sur le plumage sont tres belles!

excellent comme d'habitude.

bravo et merci.

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