Adult Male Cardinal

Adult Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #142

Cardinal Family

I've been observing the regular visitors to the bird feeder. Today, the (I presume to be) "Dad" showed up. Only got one shot before he took off though.

The juvenile male remains by far, the least shy of the family.

The juvenile female took off before I had a chance to get my camera set up.

Adult Male Cardinal

Adult Female Cardinal

Juvenile Male Cardinal

For entire photo and video archive (which may be used freely for non-commercial, educational purposes on condition all proper credits remain intact), go to Zoology Quest: Cardinalis cardinalis photo archive

Video clips from today

Adult Female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #136


Adult Female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #137


Juvenile Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #138


Juvenile Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #139


Juvenile Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #140


Juvenile Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #141

Cardinal Taxonomic Hierarchy

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia  -- Animal, animals, animaux   
Phylum Chordata  -- chordates, cordado, cordés   
Subphylum Vertebrata  -- vertebrado, vertebrates, vertébrés   
Class Aves  -- Birds, oiseaux   
Order Passeriformes  -- passereaux, Perching Birds   
Family Cardinalidae 
Genus Cardinalis Bonaparte, 1838 -- Cardinals   
Species Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Direct Children:   
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis affinis
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis 
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis carneus
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis clintoni
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis coccineus
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis flammiger
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis floridanus
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis igneus
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis littoralis
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis magnirostris
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis mariae
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis phillipsi
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis saturatus
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis seftoni   
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis sinaloensis   
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis superbus 
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis townsendi   
Subspecies Cardinalis cardinalis yucatanicus

Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Taxonomic #179124

Darwin's Peacock Question and the Cardinal

"How do bright red male cardinals survive? New feathers on male Northern Cardinals are edged with brown, and the tips wear away to reveal the brightest red at the end of winter/early spring. ..."
~ acorn-online com/.../index.php?...male-cardinals...

...and a peacock tail being a liabilty?

Maybe... the point is to guarantee that certain males should NOT survive.
Weeding out the weakest males who are slower and easy prey, and the strongest survive to mate another season.

Now that's "natural selection".

This juvenile male is marked by its dark beak and brown feathers. The feathers will turn bright red as it matures. The adult is marked by its bright orange beak.

Juvenile Male and Adult Female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

This juvenile male is marked by its dark beak and brown feathers. The feathers will turn bright red as it matures. The adult is marked by its bright orange beak.

Female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #105


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #106


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #107


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #109


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #110


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #111


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #114


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #115


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #116


Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Clip #117

Juvenile Female Cardinal (Video)

This juvenile female cardinal is marked by its dark beak. The adult is marked by its bright orange beak.

Cardinalis cardinalis, Clip #080

Juvenile Male Cardinal (Video)

This juvenile male is marked by its dark beak and brown feathers. The feathers will turn bright red as it matures. The adult is marked by its bright orange beak.

Cardinalis cardinalis, Clip #039