Plumage is a term that refers to the characteristics of a bird's feathers. Shown here is the normal plumage of an adult northern cardinal. The female northern cardinal is often thought of as not ...

Q: I watched a beautiful male cardinal feeding an all-brown bird on the roof of my garage. Why would it feed another species? A: That’s a great observation and it indicates how different young ...

Just before Christmas, two backyard birders in Michigan were in for the ultimate surprise–a yellow Northern Cardinal. Arlene and John McDaniel spotted the incredibly rare bird in their backyard in ...

Six years ago, an Alabama photographer’s photos of a rare yellow cardinal captivated the nation on numerous national news outlets after being first reported on AL.com. Now, a bird with the same ...

Since their creation, state mottos and symbols have helped to achieve distinction and uniqueness. North Carolina's state motto is "Esse Quam Videri." It's a Latin phrase that roughly translates to "to ...

Here we are post-holiday and deep into the heart of summer. The sunshine, warm gentle breezes, deep green leaves on trees and grass that seems to grow overnight — ah, yes, we are in summer. Never mind ...

Thanks to their vibrant red feathers and iconic head crests, cardinals are one of the most recognized songbirds. As the official state bird of seven different states, including North Carolina, ...

Q: Several male cardinals that have come to my feeder look “scraggly,” missing feathers on their heads and much of their body, and are discolored. Why? R.B.F. Answer: Phil Dickinson, one of the ...

The state bird of North Carolina sticks out amongst the rest. It's beautiful, has positive associations, and stays around all year. Since their creation, state mottos and symbols have helped to ...