If that sounds reverential, it is.

There is nothing quite like a cardinal in winter. Especially this winter. It's been a tough one, in terms of both the cold and the color. The long-lasting blanket of snow has made our bleak landscapes look even more monochrome than usual.

Into that dreary black and white tableau flies the cardinal.

The females are pretty but the males in their regal redness are stunning. We've seen them in the backyard with some regularity these past few months — sitting on a bush, perched atop a fence, pausing on the compost bin, hopping along the snow. A sighting is always welcome.

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A cardinal does not land unattended. It comes with a deep well of cultural significance. It functions as a symbol of hope and........

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