Here's a pair of Cardinals that inhabit my backyard year round. The enjoy the ample food provided which is spiked with chili powder and cayenne powder to keep the squirrels out (ever see a squirrel do a back flip off a bird feeder?? it's hilarious) and also warms the birds tummies since they cannot feel the spice heat with their tongues (or seem not to mind it anyway)
These guys are definitely fattened up for winter. The male is the father of the brood or his offspring from this year who will be moving on come spring as they do every year. The female is an immature ones from the same brood. We had a brood of 6 with an even split of males and females this year... which is a bit of a rarity. Momma was no where to be found which leads me to believe that she was taken by one of the many neighborhood cats who like to leave us presents regularly.
