The Northern Cardinal is a large, long-tailed songbird with a very short, thick bill, and a prominent crest. This cardinal seen flying through the trails all along the trail is a male cardinal. Though the males and females both have a black face and reddish-orange bill, the male is a brilliant red color whereas the female is pale brown with red tinges in her wings. The cardinal prefers to sit closer to the ground and nest in dense tangles of shrubs. These birds eat mainly seeds and fruit supplemented with the occasional insect. Cardinals are extremely territorial and will spend hours defending their home from intruders. A mechanism of defense is a high-pitched, metallic chip given off to warn the pairs and nestlings. They are also songbirds, giving off two-parted whistles for two to three seconds, peaking during the spring and summer.