The Cardinal - Official State Bird in Seven States

Flying Panda · Jun 7, 2019

Here is a personal story behind the long title above. I grew up a country boy in the state of Virginia in the USA. We (children in the family) spent a lot of time with our grandparents who lived "out in the country" where we learned to identify different birds and animals along with their habits and bodily movements. I fell into the habit of calling certain species by a "common identity". One day while in school (5th grade) the class was called upon to name the "state bird". With enthusiasm I raised and waved my hand knowing for certain the answer. "The Red Bird", I blurted out. WRONG! That day I learned not to call Cardinals red birds, or Indigo Buntings blue birds, or Crackles and Starlings black birds, etc.

Here is a couple of images of a "red bird" a photographed this morning!