We’re continuing our Bird theme week today with the Northern Cardinal! They’re named after cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, because their color reminded early settlers of the distinctive red robes and caps worn by cardinals. They were originally found mostly in the southern U.S. but as towns and suburbs started to grow in the Eastern U.S., cardinals started expanding northward in the early 1900s. Adult male cardinals are brilliant red, while females are a greyish brown with a slight reddish tint on their wings, crest, and tail. In the spring and early summer, you might see a cardinal attacking its reflection in a window, car mirror, or other shiny object. Males and females both do it, and it’s because they’re trying to defend their territory against any intruders. Northern cardinals are the state bird of 7 states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia), more than any other species! Learn more here.