During the fall, after raising three broods of babies, both Momma and Poppa cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) were looking kind of rough. They were missing some feathers and looked kind of thin. By December they were looking much better. Their feathers were growing back and they had been eating like crazy. Before too much longer, the next breeding season will be here, but as you can see, they will starting out well feathered and looking great.