Northern Cardinal, female, singing (Cardinalis cardinalis) Maine, Minnesota, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala. | BIRDS & Nature

In our Video of the Week, sound recordist Greg Budney talks about the brilliant song of the Northern Cardinal. Both male and female cardinals sing, and they are some of the first birds to start singing in the year, bringing a blaze of color and sound to the gray days of late winter and early spring. | Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cardinal bird (Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis): Males are famous for their vivid red feathers and black mask, while females are more brownish with reddish tinges for better camouflage. The bird is named after the bright red robes worn by Catholic cardinals. Unlike most songbirds, both male and female cardinals sing. Females often sing to communicate with their mates, especially during nesting. Males are highly territorial and will aggressively attack their reflection in mirrors or wind