One of the most striking birds you’re likely to encounter in the Sonoran Desert is the Northern Cardinal. Their bright red feathers distinguish them from any other desert bird. Although they’re easy to spot, they’re not that easy to find if you’re looking for them. I’m fortunate enough to live next to a large land preserve here in North Scottsdale, and cardinals seem to have found a home in this area. Below are several of my favorite photographs from this past January. The bright red plumage are the males while the reddish/orange feathers belong to the females.

To see larger versions of the photographs click on any of them to start a slideshow.