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What a stunning photo of a female Northern Cardinal that our friend Shawn shared with us! Thanks Shawn! Even though female cardinals aren’t as bright as their male counterparts, their red tail, wings, crest and beak are still pretty spectacular don’t you think? Did you know that cardinals weren’t always found in Massachusetts? I’m reading that the first documented nesting pair was reported in Wellesley, Massachusetts in 1960. Their range has expanded further northward since that time and they can now be found year-round in some areas as far north as the Canadian border. Here is a link to their Range Map from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology if you are interested https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/maps-range The cardinal in Shawn’s photo is feasting on a Wild Birds Unlimited safflower seed cylinder. Cardinals LOVE safflower seeds, but do you know who doesn’t? European Starlings. They have a hard time opening its hard shell. European Starlings had been coming in large groups to Shawn’s feeders, chasing all the other birds away, so he is temporarily feeding safflower. We sell safflower in seed cylinders, as loose seed, and it is an ingredient in several of our seed blends. By the way, rowdy starlings will soon be pairing up to nest, so they won’t be gathering in large groups at our feeders - to the relief of all the other birds trying to eat! You may be curious about that attractive feeder holding the safflower seed cylinder. It’s called the Birds Choice Hanging Seed Cylinder Feeder and it will hold any of our seed cylinders. We sell this very popular feeder at our store, but not online.