Note to bird guide authors

Male Northern Cardinals are NOT "brilliant red all over." Just look at the illustrative photos included with your text! They have a brilliant red heads and bodies, but the back and wings are a duller to rusty red.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id

Rant thanks to seeing a male Northern Cardinal at an unfamiliar angle and being struck by the rusty back and wings and wondering if it was some alternative plumage.