Northern Cardinal (female)
medium confidenceCardinalis cardinalis
A medium-sized, crested songbird perched on a shepherd's hook feeder pole. The prominent pointed crest, stout conical bill, long tail, and overall plain buff-toned body with slightly darker wings and tail are consistent with a female Northern Cardinal. The black-and-white rendering removes the diagnostic warm brown and red tones, but the silhouette and posture are classic cardinal.
Other possibilities:
- Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) — Also crested with a smooth plain body, though the bill would be shorter and the tail tipped with a pale band.
- Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) — Crested and gray, and a common feeder visitor, but noticeably smaller with a shorter tail and smaller bill.
- Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) — Similar slim body and long tail at a feeder pole, though it lacks a crest and has a slender bill.
2026-09-08