The male Northern Cardinal is hard to miss. Its vibrant red head and black eye mask stands in stark contrast to winter’s bleary hues, spring’s pastel florals and summer’s bright greens. Once you learn ...

At the end of January, I heard a northern cardinal sing. Birdy, birdy, birdy. What cheer, cheer, cheer. A crimson-red male sat at the top of the tree and sent out his advertisement to a nearby female.

From hummingbirds to cardinals, bird feeders to bird flu — here are more stories about the winged creatures we love to see in our backyards (and beyond). The male Northern Cardinal is hard to miss.