Wilderness Portraits Archive by Lloyd Paul Aiello

Male Northern Cardinal In Red Maple Eating a Wasp

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American bird also known colloquially as redbird or common cardinal. It can be found from southern Canada, through the eastern United States and south to Mexico. It prefers woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and swamps. The Northern Cardinal has a body length of 8-9 inches and a wingspan of 10-12 inches. The male is a vibrant red, while the female is a dull red-brown shade. The Northern Cardinal is mainly granivorous, but also feeds on fruit or insects as shown here (note the wasp in the bird's beak). The cardinal was once prized as a pet, but its sale as cage birds is now banned in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This particular male Northern Cardinal is in the process of eating a wasp as it perches in a Red Maple (Acer rubrum) that is just coming into bloom.

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Filename: _LPA5920-cardinal, male-wasp-eating-maple-red.tif
Image Size: 2924x3656 / 53.7MB; www.WildernessPortraits.com; Cambridge Massachusetts Mt. Auburn Cemetery activity animal behavior animals birds black blooming cardinal color colorful descriptors eating format hungry identification insects master perching places red season spring state-city-location type vertical view wasp white
Contained in galleries: Insects & Spiders, Recent Additions, Favorite Wilderness Portraits Images, Wildlife Portraits

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American bird also known colloquially as redbird or common cardinal. It can be found from southern Canada, through the eastern United States and south to Mexico. It prefers woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and swamps. The Northern Cardinal has a body length of 8-9 inches and a wingspan of 10-12 inches. The male is a vibrant red, while the female is a dull red-brown shade. The Northern Cardinal is mainly granivorous, but also feeds on fruit or insects as shown here (note the wasp in the bird's beak). The cardinal was once prized as a pet, but its sale as cage birds is now banned in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This particular male Northern Cardinal is in the process of eating a wasp as it perches in a Red Maple (Acer rubrum) that is just coming into bloom.