Northern cardinal

It's time for the bird of the week, and this week's flashy entry is the northern cardinal, so-called because they are the colour of a cardinal's robes.

My references are silent on their theological views, though it should be noted that the females don't get the bright red, instead they are a yellowish brown.  So some might say that these cardinals have more in common with their Catholic namesakes than just the colour they wear.

Anyway, cardinals have a reputation for being a bit nasty, but from what I've seen they are fairly mellow, certainly better behaved than the blue jays.  They are around throughout the year but they are often associated with winter, I think because they stand out so well against the snow.  This one and what I assume to be his mate have been visiting daily since March, apparently drawn by the bird feeder.

They are really a bit too big to use the feeder, but this chap knocks seed from it on to the ground and goes from there.  I think I've seen him take an interest in peanuts, too.  When he visits he chirps as he eats, which is rather endearing, it's like he is having a little conversation with you.

There is also one - maybe the same one - that spends a lot of time in a tree out the front of our house.  We often see or hear it outside the window.

The females look so different from this - apart from the general shape and colour of the beak - that it took a while for Mrs Walles and I to realise that they were cardinals, too.  If I manage to snap a picture of the female I'll post a picture for comparison.