I got this shot a few years back whilst in Maui photographing humpback whales. Red-crested Cardinals (Paroaria coronata) are a colourful, pretty bird that were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands back in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Today, they are now often seen around parks and gardens on the islands, especially in O’ahu, were they were first introduced. Originally only found in South America, were these members of the tanager family (not cardinal family) are sometimes known as the ‘Brazilian Cardinal’ and are seen in forests, clearings and shrub lands. Primarily seed eaters, they are often found feeding on the ground and will occasionally nibble at dead plants and fruit and during the mating season might even be tempted by the odd insect or two.
