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Cornell Lab of Ornithology feeders
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Cindy Dow
Augusta, ME, USA
The male cardinals in my backyard will ‘stand guard’ for the female cardinals. When a female is getting a snack of suet or sunflower seeds he seems alert and protective of her and stands guard on the Shepard’s hook or a nearby tree until she finishes, then the male takes his turn when she flies off.
This time he seems to be doing the same behavior for a small male Downy Woodpecker – I have not ever seen him doing this a different species. Usually they just eat together.
Category 8: Eyewitness
Male Cardinal standing guard for a Male Downy Woodpecker.
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