What Cheer..cheer cheer cheer/spring must be near.

A state bird of seven different states, telling us spring must be near, the bright red male Northern Cardinal sings: What Cheer..cheer cheer cheer. On sunny late winter mornings, the male cardinal perches atop a tree and sings to attract a mate. Interestingly, the female cardinal  is one of only a few song birds which sing as well. During nesting, she may sing a duet with the male as a sign of telling him when to bring food to the family.  In their search for finding a suitable nesting site, the male and female travel together as a pair. Upon finding a quality habitat, the female does the majority of nest construction. The female will lay 3-4 pale green, blue, or gray eggs; incubation time ranges from 10-13 days.  During nesting season, male cardinals are extremely aggressive in defending their breeding territories and have been known to attack their reflection in glass windows or shiny surfaces.  Research has shown that males with a brighter red appearance have higher feeding and reproductive rates.  As winter winds down, take time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Northern Cardinal and know warmer days are ahead.