Valentine’s Day has long been linked to birds—some scholars even suggest the holiday’s February timing connects to birds’ mating season. So this month, we’re celebrating a feathered classic that feels like a love note in flight: the Northern Cardinal.

With its brilliant color, bold crest, and clear whistled song, the Northern Cardinal can brighten the coldest winter day—and it’s beloved enough to be the official state bird of no fewer than seven eastern states. When you start an annual donation today, you’ll power year-round work to protect cardinals and other birds—and we'll send a Northern Cardinal plush as a symbolic gift to you or a special someone in your life.