If berries/fruits are still around on a bush in February, I have to believe that they are not a bird’s favorite food. If you are hungry, enough, I guess you make do with what is there, as this female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was doing yesterday when I took this photo.
I am not certain, but I think that the red berries may be rose hips and the cardinal was trying to get to the seeds in the center, as the evidence on her bill suggests. Although I have heard that rose hips are a great source of Vitamin C, I doubt that they provide much nourishment to the birds.
I really like the way that this female cardinal almost disappears into the background in this image—the colors of her body and her bill are almost a perfect match for her surroundings.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Wonderful shot. I agree the background really helps!
Stunning. She looks like she’s finding enough to eat.
Bill and fruit color also quite complimentary. Nice composition in this shot, Mike!
Birds go for the fruit with the highest fat content. Berries that are still around late in the season like staghorn sumac usually have a lower fat content. I’m not sure about the fat content of rose hips, but it looks like that’s what she’s eating.