Christmas Cardinals

[berrywise]

My parents have about four pair of Cardinals that frequently feed at my dad’s bird feeders each year. So while visiting for Christmas I had the chance to borrow my Uncle’s 20D and take a few photos of through the family room window. We had just gotten a fresh coating of snow and it was still sticking to the branches so the red birds really popped out against the background. The light was fading pretty fast so most of them were pretty soft trying to handhold a 300mm lens but for viewing on the web, and a little photoshop sharpening it seemed to do the trick.

[Knight]

Nice series of captures , i love Cardinals but they are very rare in my neck of the woods Shooting from behind a window is better than getting no photos . The Blue jay in the featured photo is shot behind glass also.

[mn shutterbug]

Nice shots. I especially like the first one. People must really be keeping their windows and glass doors clean.

[slayer7124]

I like the first and third, but the third one looks to have too much contrast.

[AgingEyes]

Very vibrant color!

Question: how does a bird with such bright color hide itself from its predators?

[berrywise]

Very vibrant color!

Question: how does a bird with such bright color hide itself from its predators?

Good question. Not very well I suppose One year we had some kind of bird (I can't recall as it has been awhile) that swooped down and took out one of the male cardinals and ate it right in our backyard. The ground was covered in red feathers.

[Cassie1]

Nice series, love that first one.

Cassie.

[Loupey]

Good question. Not very well I suppose One year we had some kind of bird (I can't recall as it has been awhile) that swooped down and took out one of the male cardinals and ate it right in our backyard. The ground was covered in red feathers.

We have quite a few coopers hawks and cardinals in my area and I use cardinals to tell me when the hawks are lurking nearby. The cardinals know they are targets, and hence their timid nature and great eyesight.

Nice series, berrywise. Thanks for posting and sharing these.

[readingr]

Lovely capture. Such a stunning colour.

Roger