[Larry S.]

Here is one I shot this week during the full moon. It was about 45 minutes after sunrise. The cardinal was singing like it was springtime. Fortunately, he stuck around long enough for me to take a couple steps to the right and align the full moon behind him. No sky replacements or photo merging here, just luck that the bird allowed me to take a couple steps.
View attachment 103138

Excellent! Figured it was the moon…great perch for his morning song

 

[jeffnles1]

Excellent! Figured it was the moon…great perch for his morning song

Thanks

 

[nokk]

one of my first wildlife photos from 15 years ago. also, probably the last snow storm i was off work.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Most of the other photos you folks posted are of handsome cardinals, but I have the exception. This male was molting and had lost every feather on his head, most of the cardinals here lose a lot of their head feathers, but this guy lost every single one --

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[Larry S.]

one of my first wildlife photos from 15 years ago. also, probably the last snow storm i was off work.

Great shot!..cardinals in snow on branches are just in time for Christmas.

 

[Larry S.]

Most of the other photos you folks posted are of handsome cardinals, but I have the exception. This male was molting and had lost every feather on his head, most of the cardinals here lose a lot of their head feathers, but this guy lost every single one --

View attachment 103140

Great pic Woody! They certainly look bizarre without head feathers…. I‘ve seen this condition once years ago….Actually, I can relate to this guy!

 

[Larry S.]

…Yes, from March 2009. I have a baldy cardinal also. I don’t recall seeing another species with a complete head molt….

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[nokk]

it looks like he's dressed up as a vulture for halloween.

…Yes, from March 2009. I have a baldy cardinal also. I don’t recall seeing another species with a complete head molt….
View attachment 103142

 

[SMB]

Pyrrhuloxia, the Desert Cardinal
A1, 600mm f4.

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[Larry S.]

Pyrrhuloxia, the Desert Cardinal
A1, 600mm f4.

View attachment 103170

Interesting variety….I was hoping a forum member would present one I haven’t seen before…. The beak looks ”stouter” than the northern cardinal.

 

[SMB]

Interesting variety….I was hoping a forum member would present one I haven’t seen before…. The beak looks ”stouter” than the northern cardinal.

Southwest US and Northern Mexico. This shot is from two weeks ago taken at Bosque del Apache N.M.. The beak on this male will get quite yellow and the red plumage more pronounced in breeding season. To me the beak looks like a small parrot.

 

[Dinusaur]

Here's one I took last year. I was standing by a river when a pair of Cardinal attacked a Common Grackle, it probably came too close to their nest. It was quite an attack, and it went on for about 20 seconds.

https://flic.kr/p/2oFBGYu

 

[Tom.D]

One from my backyard

 

[Larry S.]

Southwest US and Northern Mexico. This shot is from two weeks ago taken at Bosque del Apache N.M.. The beak on this male will get quite yellow and the red plumage more pronounced in breeding season. To me the beak looks like a small parrot.

Thanks for the location info! I also thought the beak was reminiscent of a parrot’s…

 

[Larry S.]

Here's one I took last year. I was standing by a river when a pair of Cardinal attacked a Common Grackle, it probably came too close to their nest. It was quite an attack, and it went on for about 20 seconds.

https://flic.kr/p/2oFBGYu

Wife & I have witnessed a few cardinal fights and they have been high spirited events! A Christmas wreath on our door had a cardinal ornament on it that was taken to the ground by an offended “real cardinal”…. We put it back and he attacked again!Crazy bird!

 

[Larry S.]

One from my backyard

Beautiful image….symmetry works here!

 

[Coolbob]

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[Larry S.]

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Super series! Love the last one…”…and another one bites the dust!”

 

[SMB]

A shot from the archives. The Cardinal was perched above water and the spectral highlights were from the water. No background was added.
Nikon D500, 500mm f4 w/ 1.4TC

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[Larry S.]

A shot from the archives. The Cardinal was perched above water and the spectral highlights were from the water. No background was added.
Nikon D500, 500mm f4 w/ 1.4TCView attachment 103250

Absolute stunner! The background capture is outstanding…

 

[Jose Raposo]

Most of the other photos you folks posted are of handsome cardinals, but I have the exception. This male was molting and had lost every feather on his head, most of the cardinals here lose a lot of their head feathers, but this guy lost every single one --

View attachment 103140

That's a cool shot Woody.

 

[Larry S.]

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The molting image is amazing. There have been at least three images in this thread of “Zombie Cardinals”… they look so pathetic…