I spotted this male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as he was hopping around on the ground near a stream last week in Prince William County, Virginia. I was delighted when the cardinal bent over and drank briefly from the shallow water. In the first photo, I captured the moment when the cardinal lifted his head and dribbled a few drops of water from his mouth.
It seemed like the cardinal suddenly became aware of my presence and realized that my previous photo might not have been very flattering, which is usually the case when you snap a shot of someone eating or drinking. He then struck a profile pose for me to show his better side. Note the slight tilt of the head that helps to present a slimmer neck—clearly this cardinal had some previous experience as a model.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
What a gorgeous bird!!
Thanks, Dina.
Cardinals are my favorite birds! I saw a few too this last week. One in my backyard. I must go buy more seed. Your pics are always stunning!
Thanks. I too love cardinals, particularly during the gloomy days of winter when their bright colors are such a welcome sight.
You’re welcome! Amen!!
Our State bird! ❤️ The reflection is super nice, Mike!
Thanks, Mitzy. I rarely get a chance to see a cardinal grabbing a drink, so it was a real treat to be able to capture a reflection in the water.
For sure! I’d so love to catch one in a birdbath!
The reflection in the water is amazing. We have cardinals around all year long. There is a vernal pond in the lot next door, but never saw a cardinal there with even a slight chance of such a terrific shot! Good job, my friend.