Bird of the Week
Northern Cardinal

[Photo by Michael Warren]
Northern Cardinals are so familiar to backyard birdwatchers that it’s tempting to take their astonishing beauty for granted. The bright red plumage and pointy crest of the males resemble the vestments of Catholic Cardinals, which is how they got their common name. (The yellow Prothonotary warbler is also named for church officials.) These year-round residents are easy to attract with a simple feeder and a bag of birdseed. This one was photographed cooling off in a lawn sprinkler in Southeast Ocala.
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