Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are one of my favorite birds, in part because they stay with us throughout the winter. The bright red color of the male cardinal never fails to lift my spirits, even on a dreary, rainy day in mid-December, when I took this photo. The feathers on the bird’s body seem to be more subdued than usual, but the spiky red feathers on the cardinal’s head give it plenty of color as well as attitude.
We are covered in snow, thanks to yesterday’s daylong snowstorm, and I would love to get some shots of a cardinal in the snow. The bitterly cold temperatures (it’s 9 degrees F (minus 13 C) and windy right now), gusty winds, and treacherous road conditions, however, may limit my photo opportunities for the next few days.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
It sounds like you’ll get your chance at a shot of a cardinal in snow. I didn’t know you got that much snow. I wonder how my coworkers on Long Island fared. It sounds like they may have been buried under quite a lot of snow.
As soon as I saw your title my mind immediately went to Gordon Lightfoot’s song, Rainy Day People. Quite odd since I haven’t heard it in decades. Brave the snow, the shot will be worth it.
[…] Rainy day cardinal […]
I love cardinals too but gusty winds and 9 degrees is definitely a deterrent. You’re a hardy one.