Female Northern Cardinal

Captured in the quiet cold of a Pennsylvania winter morning.

Subject: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Location: Fort Washington State Park, Pennsylvania
Season: Winter

The female Northern Cardinal is often overshadowed by her brilliantly red mate, but there's an understated beauty to her warm brown plumage with those distinctive red accents on the crest, wings, and tail. Perched among bare winter branches with seed clusters still clinging on, she was completely at ease — giving just enough time to take this image.