Cardinalis cardinalis

Stebbins Nature Sanctuary, Longmeadow, Massachusetts

This common resident of the Eastern and Southwestern United States is the big crested red bird with bright red conical bill and black face mask. The female is less red, but still unmistakable as a cardinal. In the Northeast, spring is marked by the "wheeta wheeta wheeta", and "what Cheer! what Cheer! what Cheer!" calls which can be easily traced to these big red birds. Males like to sing from the highest most conspicuous perch.