Cardinal Facing the Camera Among Scattered Seed Husks

A male cardinal stands on bare ground and looks almost straight into the lens. His red plumage is saturated, and his crest rises to a sharp point above his head. The black mask around the orange-red beak is clear, and a patch of pale feathers on the shoulder breaks up the red. The ground around him is covered with split sunflower husks in grey, black and white, which makes a busy, muted background for the bright bird. The light is soft and even, and the bird's head-on pose gives the frame a direct, slightly comic mood.

The northern cardinal does not migrate, so it stays through winter across much of eastern and central North America, including Minnesota. Cardinals often feed on the ground, especially at seed put out by people, and sunflower seed is a favourite because their thick beaks crack husks easily. Only the male is this vivid red. The female is warmer brown with red accents. The square format and strong central subject suit a phone lock screen or a tablet, and the busy lower half leaves room for icons on a desktop.