Cardinals

In the stillness of early morning, Sugar and I lazily ambled down the sidewalk, taking our time and enjoying the mist that hung mysteriously over the dewy grass. The cacophony of bird song had died away to the occasional chirruping of a robin or wren, a few raucous squawks of a jay or crow.

I yawned while I watched Sugar sniffing about, and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something move. Yes, a flash of red in the pines across the street. Two of them, accompanied by the unmistakable metallic chipping of a cardinal. There they were again, flashing out of the shady wooded area into the light. Two bright red birds dipping and darting, turning and swooping.

Wait, that can't be right. Two males? Shouldn't that be a bright red male and a dull brown female? For a few minutes they were out of sight though I could still hear them calling. I wondered if a stray male had somehow inadvertently wandered into someone else's territory and was being chased out, but there was no malice to their flight pattern. For a long half hour we watched them winging about, zipping in and out of the trees, chirping and playing.

How unique! I wonder if there are two females sitting on nests somewhere close. Well, we will have to keep an eye out for babies - unless the second male is a son being taught how to fly! Too bad I am not more knowledgeable. I'll bet any bird watcher worth his/her salt could tell me!