Everyone seems to want the cheerful cardinal with its 25 songs as their state bird and seven states have already claimed it. So lovely in their bright red and soft olive-buff with orangey-red beaks, they are a familiar sight mostly in eastern woodland edges, thickets, and around the back yard. They can be tamed to take food from the hand but the male is such a warrior that he will sometimes try to attack his own reflections in mirrors, windows, and hubcaps. They hop around on the ground looking for insects, seeds, fruits, and snails and may breed up to four times in a year. This pair live with us at Three Bears Farm in Virginia and have become a beloved part of the family.