A small, brightly coloured bird lowered its flight and landed on a branch. The thin, young branch bent slightly under its weight, moving like a spring. With a quick, almost automatic movement, the bird cleaned its feathers with its beak and then uttered a few melodious sounds. It had bright red feathers, which formed a characteristic crest around the top of its head, contrasting sharply with the blue-grey background of the winter forest. A male Red Cardinal.
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