[Rassie]

This female Northern Cardinal was in my garden yesterday. These birds are usually skittish and take off as soon as they spot me with the camera. Not this one. She sat there grooming herself for so long that I was compelled to get the camera and make her portrait. It looks like she either had a serious accident, or perhaps she was born with the equivalent of a cleft palate in humans.

Even with that deformed beak she took the time to groom herself, so I guess she manages to feed herself well enough not to starve.

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[seh]

Lovely shots. She's a beauty in any case.

 

[Winston Churchill (Sir)]

It makes one feel for nature when you see something like this.
Beautiful captures and she is beautiful too

 

[Woody Meristem]

She's an adult, so if it was a birth defect she's at least a year old. They're molting now which probably accounts for her rough-looking feathers.

 

[Hooligans Imagery]

Beautiful shots and speaking of local impact of climate on bird, if you are in the US check this Audubon Link out and put in your home zip code to find out what the prediction is in your area for birds based on 1,2,3 degrees change.

 

[Charles Loy]

She is a keeper, live long. Nice photos.

 

[Rassie]

She's an adult, so if it was a birth defect she's at least a year old. They're molting now which probably accounts for her rough-looking feathers.

Thanks, Woody. I wasn't sure whether females molt as well. That being the case, it would explain the look of her coat. Even so, the lady tries to make the best of the situation.

 

[Louis champan]

What a super set of images, and you found this gal on a perfect perch.

 

[ChrisSinSeattle]

Very nice capture and she looks great

Chris S.