“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)
Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) waiting for fish. The others were rushing the trainer. By Lee at National Aviary
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“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou who dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” (Obadiah 1:3)
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) by Bob-Nan
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Crested Bunting (Emberiza lathami) by Nikhil Devasar
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (Song of Solomon 2:12 KJV)
Our new family we start today is the Emberizidae – Buntings, New World Sparrows and allies. Since there are 181 species in the family, today we will introduce you to the Emberiza genus. It contains 42 Buntings and one Yellowhammer. These are small sparrow-sized birds with conical bills that gives the power to crack open many kinds of seeds. Seeds being their favorite food.
Golden-breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) ©WikiC
There is one more bunting, the Lark Bunting, that follows next after the Emberiza genus. “Lark buntings are small songbirds, with a short, thick, bluish bill. There is a large patch of white on the wings and they have a relatively short tail with white tips at the end of the feathers. Breeding males have an all black body with a large white patch on the upper part of the wing. Non-breeding males and females look similar and are grayish brown with white stripes.” (Wikipedia)
Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) ©WikiC
There are many of these “Emberizidae buntings are boldly patterned on the face and head, or have colorful underparts.” (National Geographic Birds of the World,, p. 356) You will meet the other members of this family later. The Sparrows and others will be very familiar, many referred to as “little brown jobs”
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“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27 KJV)
“Triumphantly The Church Will Rise” ~ Faith Baptist Men’s Quintet
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV)
Emberizidae – Buntings, New World Sparrows & Allies
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“ If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? If the grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?“ (Obadiah 1:5)
White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons) named Eugy, Eating Grapes ©WikiC
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Northern Barred Owl (Strix varia) Lowry Park Zoo by Dan 2014
CAN THERE BE DESIGN WITHOUT A DESIGNER?
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead…” (Romans 1:20a)
A new science called biomimetics is making news. In the past we have talked about how some of man’s designs are often similar to God’s which do the same job. However, in biomimetics, researchers actively seek to study the creation to learn of designs that will solve engineering problems.
Can There Be Design Without a Designer?We are all familiar with the story of how thistle seeds inspired Velcro. Engineers have used the design of the owl’s wing to make the structures that carry electrical current to trains. The result is a much quieter ride. The moth’s eyes’ ability not to reflect light helps make it harder to be spotted by birds. The same design has now been used to make a nonreflective film. The result is a film that can be used to help prevent windows from reflecting light. This film will soon be available commercially. Many dyes are toxic, yet many creatures manage to show off bright colors without using toxic substances. Materials engineers studied how the jewel beetle produces its color. The result is a film that seems to change color depending on the angle from which you view it.
No scientist can offer a rational explanation for how so many thoughtful and efficient designs could be generated in a mindless universe. These designs are fingerprints God left all over the creation so that man might seek Him out.
Prayer:
I thank and praise You, dear Father, for the excellence and wonder You have left as fingerprints in the creation. Amen.
Notes:
Nikkei Weekly, 2/22/10, p. 17, “Biomimetics yields life-inspired products.”
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“I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Your commandments.” (Psalms 119:131 NASB)
Australian Pipit (Anthus australis) ©WikiC chicks
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By James J. S. Johnson
Coots on Ice ©FWS
For Thou hast delivered my soul from death; wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? Psalm 56:13
As the following study of the American Coot shows (which begins our review of birds having names that begin with “C”), God has employed creatively clever bioengineering into the form and function of American Coot feet. How much moreso, as creatures made in His image, should we appreciate His design-and-construction engineering genius, as it is displayed in our own feet and toes!
rican Coot (Fulica americana) © SDbirds-Terry Sohl
American Coot (Fulica americana)
As noted in the preceding “Part 1” of this series [see ], “C” is for as Cardinal, Chicken [regarding which fowl, see Flag That Bird – Part 1 ], Coot, Cormorant, Chicken, Coot, Chickadee, Caracara, Crane, Cuckoo, Curlew, and Corvid (including Crow and Chough) — plus many other birds with names that begin with the letter C!
In this “Part 2” review of “C” birds, however, the red-eyed American Coot (a/k/a marsh hen, mud hen, water hen, and poule d’eau, i.e., “water chicken”), as well as the crow-like birds that we collectively label as Corvids, will be featured.
Because the American Coot is a wetland “rail” (i.e., classified with the mostly-wetland-or-forest-associated birds, such as gallinules and crakes, that are “ground-living” – as opposed to dwelling in trees), it is often seen and appreciated by birdwatchers (like Chaplain Bob Webel, of St. Petersburg, and his wife, Marcia) who live at the vegetated edge of a freshwater lake or pond, or by brackish estuarial marshland or swampland.
“AMERICAN COOT (12 in. [or larger, with their plumage being mostly black or dark grey, depending upon lighting, and with white under-coverts and secondary wing feather-tips]) nests in marsh vegetation, but often winters in open water. It is the only ducklike bird with a chalky white bill [and that bill is triangular in shape, somewhat like that of a chicken’s beak]. When disturbed it either dives or skits over the water [like flapping, fluttering hovercraft!] with feet and wings. The closely related Common Moorhen (or Florida Gallinule, 10½ in. [what ornithologist Lee Dusing has nicknamed the “candy-corn bird”]) has a red bill and forehead and a white stripe under the wing. Both pump the neck when swimming.”
[Quoting Herbert S. Zim & Ira N. Gabrielson, Birds, A Guide to Familiar American Birds (New York, NY: Golden Press, 1987 rev. ed.), page 34.] As the youtube video-clip (below) shows, American Coots can skim and scoot across the surface of a lake or pond, flapping just over the water surface, when they want to move quickly.
Unlike ducks, however, the coot has no webbed feet.
American Coot, showing off its cushion-padded toes ©i.ytimg
American Coot, showing off its cushion-padded toes
Rather, coots have long toes that sport broad lobes of skin, designed for kicking through the water, almost like synchronized mini-paddles. These conspicuously broad foot-lobes fold backward, when a coot walks on dry land, so the foot-lobes don’t interfere with the ground surface contact – yet the foot-lobes can be used to partially support the weight of the coot (by spreading body weight over a larger surface area, like snow-shoes) when the “mud hen” travels across mucky mud (or even on thin ice!).
American Coot on Ice ©Graham Catley
American Coot on ice!
In other words, God designed coot feet to fit the wet habitats that they fill.
American Coot standing, showing broad-lobed toes ©Johnrakestraw
American Coot standing, showing broad-lobed toes
Coots are gregarious, “socializing” with themselves and with other waterfowl. IN particular, coots are share space, as they “fill” a wetland or aquatic habitat. Families of coots — or even larger groups of coots — often mixed with other waterfowl (like ducks) may compose a “raft” of hundreds or even thousands! [See, accord, American Coot entry at CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY, “All About Birds”, with Herbert K. Job, BIRDS OF AMERICA (Doubleday, 1936), pages 214-215, both cited within Steve Bryant, “American Coot”, in OUTDOOR ALABAMA.
American Coot flock “rafting” ©ARKive-Jack Dermid
American Coot flock “rafting”
For a video clip featuring American Coots in action (in Florida), sometimes interacting quite boisterously, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5dPaWH785w . (Notice: this youtube footage also includes brief footage of a few other birds, so don’t be surprised when the first bird shown is a Florida Gallinule!)
American Coot ©OutdoorAlabamea-Terry Hartley
American Coot in water
It is interesting to note that the American Coot has a migratory range that covers almost all of North America, from Panama (in the south) through the more temperate zones of Canada (in the north). As is often the case, a helpful range map has been prepared by Terry Sohl, Research Physical Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, frequently publishing on topics of land usage, ecology, cartography, climatology, and geography, including biogeography. As Terry Sohl’s range map shows, this wetland bird is a permanent resident of America’s West and Southwest (west of the Mississippi River), a breeding resident of America’s northern prairie states, a nonbreeding resident of America’s Southeast and East Coast states, and a migrant in some parts of Appalachian Mountain range zones. [NOTE: the above-referenced Terry Sohl range map is not shown here, because Mr. Sohl, as a self-described “hardcore atheist”, does not want his maps associated with a Christian blogsite.]
American Coot, with young, eating aquatic plant ©Oiseaux-Tom Grey
American Coot, with young, eating aquatic plant.
So what do American Coots like to eat?
Mostly duckweeds and other wetland emergent plants (especially seeds and roots), lacustrine algae, small mollusks (like snails), little fish, tadpoles, and wee crustaceans, as well as a mix of aquatic bugs. [See, accord, Herbert S. Zim & Ira N. Gabrielson, Birds, A Guide to Familiar American Birds (New York, NY: Golden Press, 1987 rev. ed.), pages 134-135.]
American Coot ©iytimg
But American Coots are not the only common bird dominated by black plumage. Consider the common crow, or the raven — both of which belong to another group of “C birds”: CORVIDS, an amazingly intelligent group of crow-like songbirds, including the likes of crows, ravens, jackdaws, rooks, choughs, jays, treepies, magpies, and nutcrackers.
For a few examples, consider that Lars Jonsson’s BIRDS OF EUROPE (Princeton University Press, 1993), pages 487-495, includes the following corvids of Europe: Siberian Jay, Eurasian Jay, Spotted Nutcracker, Eurasian Magpie, Azure-winged Magpie, Alpine Chough, Red-billed Chough, Jackdaw, Common Raven, Brown-necked Raven, Fan-tailed Raven Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, and Rook.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) ©BBCI Mike Wilkes
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) pair, perching on wooden fence
In North America we can expect to find corvids quite terrific, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific: American crow, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven (including the subspecies “Western Raven”), Green Jay, Blue Jay, Steller’s jay, various scrub jays, Grey Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Yellow-billed Magpie, Yucatan Jay, Pinyon Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, and more!
Raven ©Corvidresearch
For general information on corvids, see ornithologist Lee Dusing’s insightful birdwatching articles: “Corvidae — Crows, Jay”, listing more corvids that you or I will ever witness in this lifetime! — as well as Lee’s “Birds of the Bible – Raven I”, Lee’s “Birds of the Bible – Raven II”, and Lee’s “Birds of the Bible – Raven III”.
Corvid Chart – Differences Between Types of Corvids ©Autodidactintheattic
For some world history-linked appreciation of corvids (such as ravens, jackdaws, and magpies), see also 5 of my earlier articles:
“A Diet of Jackdaws and Ravens” [posted at https://leesbird.com/2015/09/16/a-diet-of-jackdaws-and-ravens/ ]; and
“Northern Raven and Peregrine Falcon: Two Birds Supporting the Manx Coat of Arms”; and
“Steller’s Jay: A Lesson in Choosing What is Valuable”; and
Flag That Bird Part 5, featuring the Australian Magpie; and
“Providential Planting: The Pinyon Jay”, CREATION EX NIHILO, 19(3):24-25, summer AD1997.
Of course, many books could be — and, in fact, have been — written about corvid birds. But this article is already long enough.
Alpine Chough ©Static1-Philip Braude
Alpine Chough, in snowy French Alps
So, God willing, the next contribution to this alphabetic series will be some “D“ birds – such as Dippers, Doves, and Ducks (including Dabblers and Divers). So stay tuned! ><> JJSJ
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Lee’s Addition:
American Coot showing feet by Lee Lake Parker
Like Dr. Jim’s article above, I have also been fascinated by the feet of the American Coot. See Birdwatching Term – Lobed Feet and Birdwatching – American Coot where I have a video of one walking down to the shore. He almost steps on his own feet.
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“And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and He smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts.” (1st Samuel 5:9)
Red-winged Blackbird Mobbing ©AllAboutBirds
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“And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?” (Matthew 26:22)
Cinereous Vulture Chick – ©Lincoln Park Zoo
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By James J. S. Johnson
Northern Cardinal M-F ©Billraker
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) male & female
“C” is for as Cardinal, Chicken, Coot, Cormorant, Chicken, Coot, Chickadee, Caracara, Crane, Cuckoo, Curlew, and Corvid (including Crow) — plus many other birds with names that begin with the letter C !
This blogpost-article calmly continues an alphabet-based series on birds, starting with a quick introduction to 4 types of birds that start with the letter “C” – followed by a few observations of alphabetic patterns in Scripture (exhibited by Psalm 119:17-24) – then followed by specific information on Cardinals, Cormorant, and Cranes.. In particular, this article will feature the Northern Cardinal, also known as the Redbird (Cardinalis cardinalis), and the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus).
Northern Cardinal M-F ©BackyardBirdLover
Double-crested Cormorant with Fish ©R. Curtis
THE ALPHABET HELPS TO TEACH US ABOUT GOD’S TRUTH
As noted in the earlier article on “A birds” – titled “A” is for Avocet, Albatross: “A” Birds, Part 1” and “A” is for Accipiter and Alcid: “A” Bird, Part 2” “B” is for Bluebird and Bittern: “B” Birds, Part 1” and “B” is for Bluebird and Bittern: “B” Birds, Part 2” – using the alphabet, to organize a sequence of information, has Biblical precedent. The perfect example is the “acrostic” pattern of Psalm 119, the longest psalm (having 176 verses!), which has 22 sections (comprised of 8 verses per section), representing the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. (Compare that to English, which has 26 alphabet letters, and Norwegian, which has 29 alphabet letters.)
The sentences in each section start with the same Hebrew letter, so Verses 1-8 start with ALEPH, Verses 9-16 start with BETH, Verse 17-24 start with GIMEL, and so forth. In this serial study’s lesson, the third octet of verses in Psalm 119 (i.e., Psalm 119:17-24), each sentence starts with GIMEL, the Hebrew consonant equivalent to the English “G”.
GIMEL ©I.Ytimg
So, because GIMEL is the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet, each verse (in Psalm 119:7-24) literally starts with that letter as the first letter in the first word (although the first Hebrew word may be differently placed in the English translation’s sentence):
17Transact/bear up [gemōl] with thy servant, that I may live, and keep Thy word.
18 Roll back Thou [gal] mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.
19 A stranger [gêr], I am, in the earth; hide not Thy commandments from me.
20 Has been broken [gârsâh], my soul, for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked [gâ‘artâ] the proud, who are cursed, who do err from Thy commandments.
22 Roll back [gal], from me, reproach and contempt, for I have kept Thy testimonies.
23 Also [gam], princes did sit and speak against me, but Thy servant did meditate in Thy statutes.
24 Also [gam], Thy testimonies are my delight and my counselors.
As noted before, Psalm 119 is all about God’s revelation of truth – especially truth about Himself – to mankind (in a comprehensive “A to Z” panorama). The most important revelation of truth that God has given to us, and the most authoritative form of truth we have, is the Holy Bible – the Scriptures. Accordingly, Psalm 119 is dominated by references to the Scriptures, using terms like “the law of the LORD” (and “Thy Word”, “Thy commandments”, “Thy testimonies”, “Thy statutes”, “Thy judgments”, etc.). In Psalm 119:9-16 these terms are used, to denote God’s revealed truth to mankind: “Thy Word” (3x), “Thy commandments”, “Thy statutes”, ”Thy precepts”, Thy “judgments”, and “Thy testimonies”.
Journeying with God’s Word ©slideplayer_com
The Hebrew letter GIMEL means “camel” (primarily as a vehicle for transport, such as for travel, i.e., bearing a rider and/or providing a transfer, from one place to another – so a secondary connotation is that which results from a transfer, such as the outcome of a transaction or some kind of personal dealings. Accordingly, Psalm 119:17-24 illustrates how God’s Word is the facilitating vehicle that carries God’s servant unto God’s intended outcomes in life (and to God Himself), somewhat like the way that John the Baptist (who wore camel-hair garments) pointed people to the Lord Jesus Christ, informationally conveying them to Jesus as the true Lamb of God Who came to remove our sin (John 1:29).
In Verse 17 (of Psalm 119), God’s Word is recognized as facilitating the psalmist’s goals of living and keeping God’s Word (Psalm 119:105 & 119:129).
In Verse 18, the psalmist recognizes that God Himself must enable our “eyes” to see, with comprehension, the truths that are contained within God’s Word – because different parts of God’s Word are required in order to provide enlightenment about the meaning and value of other parts of God’s Word (1st Corinthians 2:13; John 17:17).
In Verse 19, the psalmist understands that, in this earthly life, he sojourns as a pilgrim-like stranger “passing through”, so He needs to use God’s Word as the authority for what to do during this journey (as the psalmist treks through a strange land where he does not permanently belong), because this temporal world and its institutions are not the ultimate affiliation or fealty that defines the psalmist’s allegiance or belonging (Philippians 3:20).
In Verse 20, the psalmist’s soul is broken in its effort to be attached to God’s great doings, yet only God’s Word can equip us for appreciating and comprehending God’s providential program and judgments in the world.
In Verse 21, the psalmist reflects on how God rebukes the proud, who are cursed by and for their refusal to respect God’s Word – in effect, God has provided His Word in such a way that it delivers judgments for rejecting its truth (Romans 1:18-28).
In Verse 22, the psalmist appreciates his need for God to secure his ability to keep and care for God’s testimonies, and it is the Scriptures that enable us to break out of the world’s opposition, so that a worthwhile life of honoring God (and His Word) can be accomplished (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 101:3).
Verse 23, extends the thought of the previous verse, using political powerfully foes as examples of how the psalmist needs protection from the world’s opposition, and how immersing one’s thoughts and attitudes with Scripture’s truth is the proper “logistic” for avoiding failure amidst such opposition (Joshua 1:7-9).
Verse 24, likewise, extends the thought of the previous verse, noting that meditating upon God’s Word is the best counsel for living. In other words, living life according to God’s Word is like taking a reliable camel ride that transmits us unto a desirable destination – the journey is a good ride and the outcome is a happy ending. In sum, Scripture-facilitated living is the best way to go through life!
Camel Riders ©Travelnt.com
Thus we see the theme, woven throughout the octet of GIMEL verses (Psalm 119:17-24), that we are designed to rely upon the truth and values of the holy Scriptures, as we journey through life, as if God’s Word was a transportation vehicle (or camel) that bears us up and delivers us to a good and proper outcome in life. Ultimately, of course, God’s Word transports, in our thinking unto God Himself, Who is our ultimate destination, our everlasting Home – see “Why We Want to Go Home”, as we learn from Psalm 90:1 and 2nd Corinthians 5:1-6.
Bible ©Ethiorthodoxyouth
Now back to the “C” birds, beginning with cardinals. These birds are visually distinctive, the male of which is almost entirely crimson-red, accented by a black “face-mask” contrasting with a thick reddish bill.
“The [male] cardinal (7¾ in. [in length]) is the only eastern red bird with a crest. The heavy red bill, with black at its base, is a good field [identification] mark. The light brown [sometimes tinted a golden mustard shade of tan] female has the [red-tinged] crest and red bill, but little red on the body [with most of her red feathers highlighting her wings and tail plumage]. Young [cardinals] have dusky bills. Cardinals are common in shrubbery, hedgerows, and wood margins [i.e., forest edges]. In recent years [as of AD1987] the cardinal has gradually spread [its residential range] northward. The [somewhat similar-looking] Pyrrhuloxia (7½ in.) of the Southwest [a/k/a “desert cardinal”] is mostly gray with red face, crest, breast, and tail, and the general cardinal shape [and is also distinguishable by its golden-yellow bill].”
[Quoting Herbert S. Zim & Ira N. Gabrielson, Birds, A Guide to Familiar American Birds (New York, NY: Golden Press, 1987 rev. ed.), page 104.]
Northern Cardinal Male ©WikiC
Northern Cardinal Female ©WikiC
In particular, this article looks at the Northern Cardinal, which was previously known as the Virginia Cardinal (Cardinalis virginianus), a fitting name for the state bird of Virginia. (In fact, the Redbird is also the official state bird of North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia – making the redbird the official bird of 7 states, more than any other American bird.)
[government-issues postage stamp images are public domain]
The cardinal is also appreciated outside of America, as is demonstrated by postage stamps of other countries, such as Belize (f/k/a British Honduras), Bermuda, and Mexico.
In a previous article, about a year ago (March 12th of AD2015), an artificial “cardinal” was featured, in lesson about what it means to make “selections” — see “How Can a Mechanical ‘Cardinal’ Make ‘Selections’?. As that article demonstrated, the notion of so-called “natural selection” is an example of bait-and-switch terminology, serving as a cloak for science fiction (1st Timothy 6:20).
Now, however, a few real facts — about real cardinals — will be reviewed.
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is widely spread, range-wise, across most of North America, covering the eastern half of America, into Texas, plus most of Mexico. As a Terry Sohl range map (not shown) indicates, the Northern Cardinal is a permanent resident in the wide range cardinals inhabits, so green fields during spring and summer, as well as snow-covered fields (during winter), seasonally serve as a contrasting backdrop for the bright red hue of male cardinals. Earth-toned females too are often seen, year-round, where they live. [NOTE: the above-referenced Terry Sohl range map is not shown here, because Mr. Sohl, as a self-described “hardcore atheist”, does not want his maps associated with a Christian blogsite.]
“The Cardinal is a favorite bird of many people and it’s easy to see why. The brilliant scarlet plumage of the male and the subtle [earth-tone] shades of the female, combined with their clear melodic song, make them enjoyable to watch in any season.”
[Quoting Donald Stokes & Lillian Stokes, A Guide to Bird Behavior, Volume II (Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1983), page 247.]
Northern Cardinal Pair ©Media-cache
Northern Cardinal Pair ©Photoshelter
So what do Northern Cardinals like to eat? Mostly seeds (including grains, such as corn, oats, and sunflower seeds) and fruits (especially berries). The seeds of what humans call “weeds” are a delightful contribution to a cardinal’s diet. Also, cardinals will eat many kinds of insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, and cicada “locusts”. Even snails are sometimes eaten by redbirds.
Northern Cardinal Pair ©Firstlighttours
Northern Cardinal Pair ©Wunderground
Socially speaking, cardinals are monogamous – they mate for life, living together year-round.
“At your [bird] feeder you may see mate-feeding, a highlight of the relationship between the pair. In this the male picks up a bit of food, hops over to the female, and the two momentarily touch beaks as she takes the food. If you have a pair mate-feeding at your feeder, they are likely to nest in the area. The nest is not hard to find …and once you know where it is, you will be able to watch mate-feeding continue at the nest through the incubation phase.”
[Quoting Donald Stokes & Lillian Stokes, A Guide to Bird Behavior, Volume II (Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1983), page 247.]
Sometimes they sing together, as they prepare for life in a new nest! The male finds and delivers ingredients for the new nest; the female does most of the nest assembly work. Most incubation of their eggs is done by the mother cardinal, yet sometimes the father will incubate the eggs while Mama takes an off-the-nest break.
“Male and female Cardinals sing equally well, a fact not generally known by those used to the widespread assumption that only male birds sing. Song is an important coordinating behavior in the life of the Cardinal. Cardinal song consists of many different phrases. In countersinging, one bird will sing one phrase several times and then the other will match it. Then the leader will sing a new phrase and the other will again match it. This type of countersinging that involves copying phrases functions to synchronize and unify members of a pair; and when given between males, helps settle territorial disputes.”
[Quoting Donald Stokes & Lillian Stokes, A Guide to Bird Behavior, Volume II (Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1983), page 247.]
Northern_cardinal M-F in winter storm ©
Now for another “C bird”: Cormorants, a group of coast-water birds, typically black (or greyish-black), and known for catching and eating fish – and sometimes even for being trained by innovative humans, to catch fish for human masters!
[ see also youtube of Cormorant Fishing in China,
For general information on cormorants, see ornithologist Lee Dusing’s insightful birdwatching articles: “Birds of the Bible — Cormorants”, as well as “Birds of the Bible – Cormorant”, as well as “Birds of the Bible – Cormorant II”.
Double-crested Cormorants are sometimes called “white-crested cormorants”, due to the white plumage they acquire during breeding season (see below).
Double-crested Cormorant – During Breeding Season ©WikiC
As Lee Dusing has already observed, cormorants and shags are really part of the same avian kind, some of which have crests and some of which don’t — so, does that mean the latter category of cormorants are “crestfallen”? :)
Cormorants are social creatures – they congregate together. Regarding the Double-crested Cormorant in particular, see the group photo (from Danspix), shown below — perhaps it was a family reunion?
Cormorants (and “shags”) are variously distributed, around the world, yet their ranges usually concentrate at or near coastal seawaters, or sometimes near freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and rivers). They usually fly close to the water’s surface, using steady wingbeats. After plunging (diving) into seawater, while fishing, they protect their feathers by spreading out their wings, while resting, to accelerate air-drying. In this article, however, the piscivorous “family” of cormorants is represented by the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). Besdies fish, cormorants eat amphibians and crustaceans, underwater. A mated pair work together to build their nest, incubate eggs, and raise their hatching young. [See Oliver L. Austin, Jr. & Arthur Singer, Families of Birds (Racine, Western Publishing Company, 1971), page 31.]
The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is widely spread, range-wise, across North America. As a Terry Sohl range map (not shown) indicates, the Double-crested Cormorant is a migratory bird, so its range differs depending upon the season of the year. [NOTE: the above-referenced Terry Sohl range map is not shown here, because Mr. Sohl, as a self-described “hardcore atheist”, does not want his range maps associated with a Christian blogsite.]
Of course, other birds (such as the American Coot!) have names that start with “C” – but this article is already long enough. God willing, the next contribution to this alphabetic series will be some more “C“ birds – perhaps a couple of these: Chicken, Coot, Chickadee, Caracara, Crane, Cuckoo, Curlew, or Corvids (including Crow)! So stay tuned! ><> JJSJ
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“B” is for Bluebird and Bittern: “B” Birds, Part 1
“A” is for Avocet, Albatross: “A” Birds, Part 1
“A” is for Accipiter and Alcid: “A” Birds, Part 2
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“Oh magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” (Psalms 34:3)
Malayan Peacock-Pheasant Feathers @WikiC
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)
Southern Yellowthroat (Geothlypis velata) ©WikiC
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Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 