By Jim Bywaters Rappahannock News Writer Ask a group

By Jim Bywaters

Rappahannock News Writer

Ask a group of people what their favorite bird is, and most likely someone will say, "A Cardinal". The Northern Cardinal, also referred to by many as a "Red Bird", is a unique combination of color, song, and a friendly character.

It is said that Cardinals are named after the Cardinals of the Catholic Church who wear red robes.

Cardinals, (Cardinalis cardinalis), are commonly seen in backyards in the eastern half of the United States. More states • have adopted the Northern Cardinal as their state bird than any other bird. These states are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Their range is primarily in the South, East and Midwest, although a few have been reported in California. We are fortunate that the Cardinal is a very common and welcomed visitor in our yards and at our feeders.

The male's bright red plumage is undoubtedly familiar to most county residents and the clarity of his varied calls can not be missed.

The male has a black patch around his beak and an easily recognizable tufted topnotch.

Even the female, whose plumage is a duller red with brown, is an accomplished singer. Their variable call, a loud "cheer, cheer, cheer or purty, purty, purty," is sung by both sexes and can be heard year round, sometimes as a duet.

Cardinals are non-migratory, but some movement does occur in the later summer and fall.

You can attract Cardinals to your backyard birdfeeder by offering black-oiled sunflower seed and cracked corn. They will also eat safflower, bread, nutmeats and peanut butter mixes.

Watch as they feed their mates at your feeder, especially during the spring and into the summer. Also for your Cardinals, plant some shrubs with berries as well as some dense shrubs where they may nest and raise their young.

Cardinals have cone shaped bills adapted to eating seeds of all sorts. In the wild, this bird has a