{"id":10064,"date":"2017-11-06T06:30:16","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T11:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=10064"},"modified":"2017-11-02T15:44:05","modified_gmt":"2017-11-02T19:44:05","slug":"take-5-colorful-cardinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-colorful-cardinals\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Colorful Cardinals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Northern cardinals bring splashes of vivid color to the grays and browns of a winter garden. Thanks to the increasing popularity of backyard bird feeders, these once rare (to New England) birds have become common year-round residents in Massachusetts over the past fifty years.<\/p>\n

Identifying the male northern cardinal is easy thanks to his rose-red plumage, pointed crest, and black mask. The female cardinal can be trickier, though, with her more subdued fashion sense consisting of pale tan and brown with a few rosy accents on the crest, wing, and tail. Both sexes, however, have the same powerful, bright orange beak which they use to crack open stubborn seeds and slice open sugary fruits to help them survive the coldest months of the year.<\/p>\n

Keep your feeders full of seed and you can likely delight in the colorful crimson hues of cardinals all fall and winter long! Here are five photos of cardinals from our Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest that should help you identify these beautiful birds.<\/p>\n

\"Male

Male Northern Cardinal \u00a9 Judith Keneman<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Female

Female Northern Cardinal \u00a9 Richard Antinarelli<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Male

Male Northern Cardinal \u00a9 Johanna Wray<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Female

Female Northern Cardinal \u00a9 Debbie Dineen<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Male

Male Northern Cardinal \u00a9 Nathan Butler<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Northern cardinals bring splashes of vivid color to the grays and browns of a winter garden. Thanks to the increasing popularity of backyard bird feeders, these once rare (to New England) birds have become common year-round residents in Massachusetts over the past fifty years. Identifying the male northern cardinal is easy thanks to his rose-red […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":10069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[28,191,83,84],"class_list":["post-10064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-birds","tag-cardinals","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/11\/2193Judith_Keneman12334_fi.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2Ck","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16289,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-return-of-the-feeder-frenzy\/","url_meta":{"origin":10064,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Return of the Feeder Frenzy","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We are so excited to finally be able to put bird feeders back out, now that the threat of the mysterious avian disease seems to have subsided. Thank you to everyone who heeded the call\u2014taking down feeders was an important precaution during a time of uncertainty and we are grateful\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinch at a nyjer (thistle) feeder \u00a9 Anindya Sen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10370,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-winter-feeder-frenzy\/","url_meta":{"origin":10064,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Winter Feeder Frenzy","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Backyard bird feeders can be a great source of joy and entertainment, especially in the grey winter months when the pop of red from a cardinal's plumage can bring some welcome color to the scenery and the chatty antics of a small flock of finches fighting over feeder perches can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red-bellied woodpecker \u00a9 John Jack Mohr","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/01\/2581JohnJack_Mohr9250_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/01\/2581JohnJack_Mohr9250_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/01\/2581JohnJack_Mohr9250_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11159,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-bath-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":10064,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Bath Time!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Splish, splash I was takin' a bath...\" Today's Take 5 is all about birdbaths! Many folks are taking advantage of the warm weather this time of year to spruce up their yards; landscaping to attract\u00a0birds and wildlife is a fun way to make your home more welcoming for both animals\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Goldfinch at Birdbath \u00a9 Paula Stephens","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/1351Paula_Stephens9942_FI.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/1351Paula_Stephens9942_FI.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/1351Paula_Stephens9942_FI.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3154,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/ready-set-count\/","url_meta":{"origin":10064,"position":3},"title":"Ready, Set, Count!","author":"Hillary T.","date":"January 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Calling all backyard bird watchers! Our annual winter bird count, Focus on Feeders, is this weekend and we need your help. It doesn't matter if you've been watching birds for days, weeks, or years\u2014everyone can take part. How it Works Over the course of Saturday, February 1, and Sunday, February\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Copyright Susumu Kishihara","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/01\/FeederBirdsSusumuKishihara.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8489,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/bird-seed-basics\/","url_meta":{"origin":10064,"position":4},"title":"Bird Seed Basics","author":"Hillary T.","date":"December 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Want to see birds without ever having to leave home? 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And don't be concerned about creating a hardship for birds should you decide to take a hiatus\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/161SusumuKishihara3650.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/161SusumuKishihara3650.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/12\/161SusumuKishihara3650.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15583,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/10-common-bird-sounds\/","url_meta":{"origin":10064,"position":5},"title":"10 Common Bird Sounds","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"April 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you wonder what you\u2019re hearing outside? 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We\u2019ve pulled together 10 sounds and songs of birds that you may commonly hear when you are out and about in your yard or neighborhood, particularly in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Phoebe copyright Anthony Lischio","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/4128Anthony_Lischio29592-750x500-22af1663-9241-47c8-b73b-c6480df017f0.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/4128Anthony_Lischio29592-750x500-22af1663-9241-47c8-b73b-c6480df017f0.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/4128Anthony_Lischio29592-750x500-22af1663-9241-47c8-b73b-c6480df017f0.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/4128Anthony_Lischio29592-750x500-22af1663-9241-47c8-b73b-c6480df017f0.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10064"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10071,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10064\/revisions\/10071"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}