Month: February 2023

His Own Worst Enemy

I had been watching this Northern Cardinal attack its reflection in the window of my truck for a while. When he saw the mirror, he became even more aggressive, so I took a few shots. He repeated the same sequence several times. Awareness of the male in the mirror, Attack!, Attack!, Attack!, Victory!

On a subsequent visit to that same spot about three weeks later, I was barely out of the truck when it started attacking again. I guess he just doesn’t like my truck.

Northern Cardinal becoming aware of its reflection in the side mirror of a truck, thinking it is a rival male.
Northern Cardinal, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX, January 16, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-3200; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Northern Cardinal initiating its attack on its reflection in the side mirror of a truck.
Northern Cardinal, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX, January 16, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-5000; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Northern Cardinal continuing its attack on its reflection in the side mirror of a truck. It is using its feet at this point.
Northern Cardinal, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX, January 16, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-5000; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Northern Cardinal landing on the top of the truck's side mirror as it finished its attack on it reflection.
Northern Cardinal, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX, January 16, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-5000; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Northern Cardinal perched on the side mirror of a truck after a vigorous fight with its reflection.
Northern Cardinal, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX, January 16, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-5000; f/10; 1/800 sec.