For folks familiar with the Northern Cardinal, you might be wondering why this image isn’t the bright red Northern Cardinal you’re used to seeing.
And that’s because it’s not an adult male Northern Cardinal.
Rather, based on what I’ve read about female cardinals, I believe this is a female Northern Cardinal.
I didn’t hear any song or calls this weekend when I spotted this bird perched in a tall shrub, braving the strong winds across a Lake Erie marsh.
But the coloring:
- Dull brownish/white belly
- Muted black face mask around the eyes
- Dull orange/red wings
has me thinking this is a female, not an immature or juvenile Northern Cardinal.
I may be wrong about the gender!
The differences between male, female, and immature birds are something I’m still learning about.
