There are northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) everywhere in my woods and yard right now. Some of the third clutches of babies are beginning to fledge, and some of the youngsters from the previous clutches are still around, too. There are quite a few pairs that live there, so that adds up to a LOT of young birds. Many of the older babies have gotten their orange beaks and are in the process of molting into full adult plumage. This handsome young man still looks a little patchy, but the way the sun was shining on him gives you a good idea of his full potential. You can see new red feathers coming in all over, and it’s easy to imagine that in a week or two he will be a bright, glowing red all over. Then when he perches in the sunshine he will be even more beautiful (if that’s possible).