Autumn female cardinal

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Autumn female cardinal

October 14, 2020 by Mike Powell

Although I really like the bright red color of the male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), there is something even more special about the subtle beauty of a female cardinal, like this one that I spotted last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The muted colors of this bird seem particularly appropriate for autumn in this area. The changing foliage here rarely has the brilliant yellows and reds found in other parts of the country, but transitions to paler shades before the leaves all fall to the ground.

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Cardinalis cardinalis, female Northern Cardinal, Northern cardinal, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on October 14, 2020 at 7:22 am | Reply mitzybricker

She’s so pretty.

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- on October 15, 2020 at 8:12 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy.
on October 14, 2020 at 11:59 am | Reply Michael Scandling

Her subtle shades are extremely becoming. Gorgeous.
- on October 15, 2020 at 8:08 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Michael. Judging from your images, you seem to be a big fan of subtle shades more than bright, in-your-face colors.
  - on October 15, 2020 at 10:25 am Michael Scandling
    
    That’s right Michael. That’s me.
  - on October 15, 2020 at 10:50 am Mike Powell
    
    🙂
on October 14, 2020 at 3:45 pm | Reply Louella Lester

I agree!
- on October 15, 2020 at 8:07 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Louella.
on October 14, 2020 at 5:19 pm | Reply krikitarts

She’s gorgeous, and it looks like she got a fresh ‘do.
- on October 15, 2020 at 8:07 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. As for the ‘do, she certainly did not borrow a comb or brush from me–I not longer possess any of them, except for a small mustache comb.
on October 18, 2020 at 3:00 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Great portrait! We have had parents and baby cardinal at the feeder! That baby makes a racket begging for food! MORE food!!
- on October 18, 2020 at 4:10 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Baby birds as they are growing can be so demanding. 🙂