Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Unusual for birds, cardinals mate for life and stay paired year round. Named for the robes of Catholic cardinals, the male’s bright red plumage and black face are unmistakable. Cardinals have a varied diet of weed seeds, wild fruit, insects, grains and even syrup made from woodpecker holes. (Field Guide to Backyard Birds of the South, 2008)
The Way 