A flash of red from the treetop, and then the familiar whoo-ett, whoo-ett, whoo-ett, tuer tuer tuer. That followed by a series of persistent and loud metallic chirps, and you know you're being paid a visit by the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. What is the "northern" cardinal doing in the tropics? Well, the northern part refers to the fact that this species has the northernmost range of the cardinals. Introduced to the islands in the late 1920's by the Hui Manu Society, they are now well established. The brilliant red of the male has made this species a real favorite, with seven states claiming it as their state bird. You'll often see him up in the top branches, calling out, though they often feed on the ground. The female is lovely too, all dusky brown with wings, tail, and crest splashed with red. During courtship, the male will feed the female, beak to beak, and bring twigs and other materials to her for nest construction. It is unusual for female songbirds to sing, but this one does, especially during courtship and often from the nest, which she builds in low shrubs, tangles, and trees. Many report that the pair remains monogamous and mate for life.
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October 2014
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