There are two types of cardinals – the spring, summer and fall cardinals and they are beautiful. And then there are the winter cardinals and they are spectacular. I had 4 winter cardinals in my yard during the recent snowstorm. Of the dozens of birds at my various feeders, the winter cardinals simply exploded with beauty. The contrast between the cardinal-red feathers and the fresh, white snow was breathtaking. I was mesmerized and watched in admiration for several minutes as the lovely red birds moved gracefully against the backdrop of snow.
The female cardinals are lovely as well, but not nearly as stunning as their mates.
I have noticed about cardinals that we get flocks that congregate in our yard in the winter and they usually get along well between one another, but when spring comes, the feathers fly. Cardinals are very territorial. By April, the cardinals have ended their turf wars and exactly two couples will share my yard and feeders. They sort of tolerate each other, but one male will always be dominant over the other. In fall, they disperse, and by early winter they return. Many birds form flocks for protection and I suppose cardinals do the same. They would certainly be an easy targets for hawks as they clearly stand out from the others.
All I know is that cardinals are lovely birds and the winter cardinals are the most beautiful of all.
