Figure 1 – Northern cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis, Sudbury, MA. (c) DE Wolf 2017.

It is strange but despite the fact that I have seen them a thousand times before, it is always a thrill when a Northern cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis– graces my bird-feeder. It is simply the red coloration, the red feathers, red beak, red tuft, and off-setting black face. And needless-to-say we naturally anthropomorphize birds. They don’r mind.  They are just trying to make a living. They are one of the most colorful species of New England birds, delightful also for their top of trees territorial song. I caught this one standing behind a little slate-colored junco for contrast and  I especially like the early morning light that is giving a warm glow to the leaves in the background.

Canon T2i with EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens at 300 mm, ISO 1600, Aperture Priority AE Mode, 1/500th sec at f/7.1 with -1 exposure compensation.