Cardinal Pair in Falling Snow

Two cardinals face each other across a snowy branch. The male on the left is red almost from crest to tail, apart from the black patch around his beak. The female has softer brown feathers, with red along her wings and tail. Both have bright orange beaks and their crests raised.

Pine needles hang above them, and several cones sit among the snow below. The birds grip the exposed bark where the snow has slipped away. Small flakes pass in front of the distant trees, which are much paler than the branches nearby. Watch for the thin dark lines between feathers as you work across the wings.