Female Northern Cardinal perched on a bare branch in falling snow, facing the camera. Plumage puffed for warmth, showing warm buff-orange body, red-tinged crest dusted with snow, red-orange bill, and dark face mask. Snowflakes fill a soft gray background. February 19, 2025. Durham, NC.
She's not migrating. Cardinals don't use torpor; they depress nighttime body temp ~1.3°C, saving an estimated 10-16% on energy. In winter, diet shifts from insects to seeds. Fat reserves hit 3x summer levels. Puffed plumage traps warm air. Brrrrr.
#NOCA #WinterSurvivors #BirdOfTheDay
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