Northern Cardinal (female)
medium confidenceCardinalis cardinalis
A plump, warm buff-brown songbird perched on the tray of a hanging tube feeder, showing a slight peaked crest, reddish wash on the wings and tail, and a stout, conical seed-cracking bill — classic features of a female Northern Cardinal. A second reddish bird visible at the feeder on the right edge of the frame is consistent with a male cardinal nearby.
Other possibilities:
- Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) — The rounded, plump silhouette and soft brown tones on a feeder tray could also match a dove, though the apparent crest and thick bill argue against it.
- House Finch (female) (Haemorhous mexicanus) — Another common brownish feeder visitor with a conical bill, but it would be considerably smaller and streakier.
- Northern Cardinal (juvenile male) (Cardinalis cardinalis) — Young cardinals show similar brownish plumage with reddish tones and a dark bill.
2026-08-22