When Scott Taylor’s father called to let him know that his backyard bird feeders were bustling with vibrant, beautiful birds, Scott didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his camera and was at his parents’ house in a flash, eager to witness the scene for himself. As an avid bird photographer, he knew this could be an incredible opportunity to capture something special.

“I went straight to their kitchen window, which has the perfect view of the backyard and the feeders,” Taylor told The Dodo. “I was amazed by the sheer number of cardinals — both male and female — fluttering around the feeders and perching in the trees. It was like watching a live painting.”

The bird feeders are set up in the middle of the backyard, creating a perfect space between the house and a cluster of trees. The birds constantly flit back and forth between the feeders and the surrounding branches, creating a lively, ever-changing scene of motion and color. Taylor was particularly taken by the cardinals — their striking red plumage stood out beautifully against the dark green of the spruce trees.

As he began snapping photos, he noticed one cardinal that was especially animated. The little bird wouldn’t sit still, hopping from branch to branch as if playing a game of tag with the wind. Every time Taylor tried to focus, the bird would dart off, only to return a moment later.

“If you’ve ever tried to photograph cardinals, you know how restless they are,” Taylor said. “They’re constantly on the move, never staying in one place long enough for the perfect shot. I just kept snapping away, hoping one of the pictures would turn out.”

After the photo session, Taylor headed home without thinking much of it. Later that evening, he uploaded the photos to his computer and began scrolling through them — and that’s when he saw it. One image stopped him in his tracks.

He had captured the exact moment the hyperactive cardinal launched itself from a branch toward the bird feeder. Its wings were slightly tucked, and its bright red body was mid-air. But what truly made the shot remarkable was the bird’s expression. The cardinal’s face — focused, intense, and almost cartoonishly furious — looked exactly like the iconic red bird from the mobile game Angry Birds.

“I zoomed in and just burst out laughing,” Taylor recalled. “There it was — that unmistakable scowl. The resemblance was uncanny. It was like the game character had come to life right in my parents' backyard.”

It didn’t take long for the photo to go viral. Taylor shared the image online, and it quickly gained traction, being reposted across social media platforms, birdwatching forums, and meme pages alike. People from all over the world were charmed by the real-life Angry Bird, marveling at how perfect the comparison was.

The cardinal's grumpy little face brought laughter and joy to thousands. Some even joked that the bird looked like it was on a mission, just like in the game — maybe heading straight for a stack of piggy-built towers.

Taylor, who thought he was simply spending a relaxing afternoon taking bird photos, ended up capturing something far more iconic. The shot has become one of his personal favorites — not just because of the uncanny resemblance, but because of how unexpectedly fun and widely loved it became.

“I still can’t believe I caught that moment,” he said. “It just goes to show that sometimes, the best photos happen when you least expect them.”

Now, every time he looks at that picture, Taylor is reminded of the joy a single image can bring — and of the little red bird who just couldn’t hide his attitude.