Male Cardinal Taking Off With Wings Spread

A male northern cardinal leaps from a bare, lichen-pale branch, caught with its wings fanned open. The feathers spread into a translucent pink-red arc, and the long tail streams out behind. The head is lowered and angled forward, with the black mask around the bill and the pointed crest clearly visible. Its red is the one saturated colour in the frame. Around it, the blurred trunks and snowy background fade into soft beige, grey and white, so the mood is quiet and wintry. Fine twigs cross in front of the bird and add a little texture.

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) lives year-round across eastern North America and does not migrate. Only males are bright red. Females are warmer brown with red tinges. Cardinals visit feeders in cold months, often eating sunflower seeds, and they forage low in shrubs and thickets. This one was recorded in Mahoning County, Ohio, in early February. The square format suits a phone lock screen, a tablet, or a desktop where the bird can sit off-center with space around it.