Some birds get all the attention. You know the ones. They’ve got beautiful bright feathers and they like to show off.

But I’ve been watching Mrs. Cardinal as she frequents my birdfeeders. Her subtle coloring is as beautiful as the flashy feathers of her mate. She’s a quiet beauty.

For the past couple of days there have been several female cardinals at the feeders, in the branches of the protective honeysuckle bush, and hiding among the last leaves of the beech tree.

I notice how beautiful she is glowing in the light. whether it’s the early morning slanted sunrise or during an afternoon snow storm. She’s modest, though, and won’t sit and pose for long.

You have to be satisfied with her brief appearances and wait, hopefull, for your next glimpse.

I noticed Mr. Cardinal watching her too. He seemed as smitten as me.
December 10, 2025 at 1:50 pm
she is a stunner is her own way. I love her subtle colors and she isn’t as jarring as her mate is. not that he isn’t handsome in his own way – just different.
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December 15, 2025 at 8:55 am
I’ve always thought she was just as pretty or prettier than the male. She has so many colors.
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December 10, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Gorgeous photos!
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December 15, 2025 at 8:55 am
Thank you!
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December 10, 2025 at 2:12 pm
I love that photo with the furled wing. And the subtlety of her colors.
>
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December 15, 2025 at 8:56 am
Me too!
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December 10, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Wonderful captures, Dawn! 😍
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December 15, 2025 at 8:56 am
Thank you!
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December 10, 2025 at 2:56 pm
The wing photo of Mrs Cardinal! Beautiful, Dawn.
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December 15, 2025 at 8:56 am
I know. I didn’t see it in the camera and was so happy to see it when I reviewed photos days later.
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December 10, 2025 at 10:30 pm
We don’t get many cardinals here on the west coast, but when we do, we pay attention! And yet your photos are stunning. I actually like the subtle colors, the softness yet lovely wonderful depth of color of the female. The guys are flashy, mostly just a SPOT of high color. The gals are truly gorgeous. 🙂
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December 15, 2025 at 8:57 am
Isn’t it funny, I always assume that we all have all the same birds even though I know better. I sure love watching my cardinals!
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December 11, 2025 at 12:01 am
I just love seeing cardinals in any situation since we have none in Spokane. Miss cardinal is quite beautiful in her neutral tones!
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December 15, 2025 at 8:58 am
I didn’t realize they weren’t out there. I guess I just thought they are everywhere!
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December 15, 2025 at 10:41 am
Oddly, they’re in Arizona which is where I saw my first one last May.
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December 11, 2025 at 5:44 am
I love that photo with the wing in motion. I am partial to the females too, and have found they are quicker than the males to find the peanuts when I throw them out to them.
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December 15, 2025 at 8:58 am
Well, we all know who the smarter sex is…..
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December 11, 2025 at 6:13 am
Those pictures are lovely! And I’m just wild about the cute way you ended it—complete with another winner of a photo.
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December 15, 2025 at 9:00 am
I’m so lucky to have a wide variety of birds here at the house. They’re so used to me going out to fill the feeders they don’t go far when I go outside. They hear that cover come off the seed bin and they’re in the trees above me. I can hear their wings as they wait impatiently for me to hurry up and fill all the feeders. And they’re eating before I make it back across the deck to the back door. Silly spoiled birds, that’s what I’ve got! Oops…I see I need to get out ther and refil again. They’re getting feisty.
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December 11, 2025 at 7:51 am
Love these photos! Stunning!
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December 15, 2025 at 9:00 am
Thank you.
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December 11, 2025 at 8:41 am
Lovely pictures set in the snow-light. I agree, the female cardinal has a gentle beauty all her own – she doesn’t need to be flashy to attract attention. ♡
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December 15, 2025 at 9:00 am
Nope, not flashy, but totally beautiful.
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December 11, 2025 at 2:09 pm
She IS beautiful! Those boy birds can be quite ridiculous and full of themselves.
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December 15, 2025 at 9:01 am
Yes they can. But I notice there’s some hiarchy among the boys. Certain ones will leave the feeder when others show up. At least during the summer. During the winter they tolerate each other more.
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December 11, 2025 at 2:34 pm
What great captures! I’ve tried — unsuccessfully — to photograph cardinals, but they’re just too quick. And too shy. The jays and grackles, however, will gladly sit tight while I fiddle with my camera. And I see you didn’t even have to bribe them with food!
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December 15, 2025 at 9:02 am
They are particularly shy. But we’ve lived here for 30+ years and I’ve been feeding them all that time. They don’t stick around if I go outside but they let me go up to the windows most of the time. If I move slowly. And having a long lens helps too. (I’m spoiled)
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December 11, 2025 at 10:31 pm
Mrs. Cardinal is beautiful in these photos Dawn. I know the male Northern Cardinals are the ones getting the attention, but the females are lookers too. I will have a few Cardinals coming up on Wednesday, taken at the Park before this Winter siege set in, but they are not close-ups like these … and they turned their back to me at one point. Better get Penny’s boots ready … did you hear about the real feel of minus 20 on Sunday? Gulp!
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December 13, 2025 at 6:06 am
we have a concert on Sunday afternoon and prior to it i have to pick up 10 poinsettas that have been donated to decorate the stage. Harder to do all that in this weather.
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December 13, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Yes, for sure and hopefully the poinsettias make it toting them around in this brutally cold weather.
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December 15, 2025 at 9:03 am
The greenhouse had them all packaged up for me. I parked close to the greenhouse and right at the back door of the school near the stage, so they made it just fine.
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December 15, 2025 at 8:03 pm
That’s great as once they’ve wilted, it’s difficult to revive them!
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December 12, 2025 at 4:30 am
Wonderful pics! Love the attention given to the non-attention seeker…
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December 15, 2025 at 9:04 am
Even shy birds like to get some attention some of the time. As long as it’s GOOD attention.
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December 13, 2025 at 10:42 am
So pretty. Yes she is beautiful too. Cardinals and winter, they just go together.
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December 15, 2025 at 9:04 am
They sure do. I’m lucky that they nest somewhere around here and I get a batch or two every summer to replenish my winter supply! 🙂
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December 14, 2025 at 12:27 pm
I love it when momma cardinal visits. She is beautiful, but papa cardinal always is close by. It is a rare moment when both are at the feeder together. Stay warm and enjoy the week ahead. Peace.
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December 15, 2025 at 9:05 am
She almosty always gives way at the feeder if the male flies up to it. Sometimes though I’ve seen him on the deck railing with her, feeding her a special seed.
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