Red birds–also known as Northern Cardinals–are popular images in holiday decor. Their bright red beaks and crimson feathers make them eye-catching additions to Christmas cards and ornaments ...

"Overall, cardinal ornament redness and saturation positively correlate with individual quality," said Slevin. "Thus, deeper red coloration indicates greater carotenoid pigmentation.

Not only do cardinal images grace greeting cards, but they’re also common on Christmas ornaments, ... Indeed, the Northern cardinal has come to be called the bird of Christmas.

“Our findings confirm the hypothesis that a wild bird’s health is tied to its microbiome, and that the ‘sexiness’ of a male’s ornaments can signal his health,” said Rindy Anderson, Ph.D., senior ...

Why is NC’s Cardinal the bird of Christmas? (Spoiler: It’s not just because it’s red) By Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska. Updated December 14, 2023 12:15 PM.

Their study explores how microbiome diversity impacts the birds' health, body condition, and ... cardinal ornament redness and saturation positively correlate with individual quality," said Slevin.