Cardinal Grosbeak

Fringilla cardinalis

At the studio, these bright birds are the first out in the morning, and the last in every evening. Unlike other birds of their genus, they do not migrate to South and Central America in the winter, rarely traveling more than a half mile from their nest. They have long been favorites of the art world, and Audubon himself said, "In richness of plumage, elegance of motion, and strength of song, this species surpasses all its kindred in the United States."