Northern Cardinal

Northern cardinals are a pretty unexpected sight on Maui. You wouldn’t think to find a bright red bird with a little crest on its head in a tropical paradise, right? Well, these guys have made themselves right at home. They’re not originally from Hawaii; they were actually brought over from the mainland US in the 1940s. People thought they’d be a nice addition to the island’s birdlife, and it seems like they were right! Cardinals have adapted really well to Maui’s climate and are now pretty common. You can spot them in backyards, parks, and even in the more wild areas of the island. It’s kind of cool to see such a familiar bird in such an exotic place. These photos were taken behind Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.