The U.S. Postal Service celebrated four birds that brighten cold winter days today by dedicating the Songbirds in Snow Forever stamps at the American Philatelic Society’s Stampshow 2016 in Portland, OR. One of the birds, the northern cardinal, is the state bird for Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. The stamps are available in booklets of 20, with each of the four stamp designs repeated five times. They feature the golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa), the cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and the red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). Illustrator Robert Giusti painted the original designs in acrylic on canvas board, depicting each bird perched on a snow-covered branch. “The Postal Service has a long tradition of putting birds on stamps — to celebrate and raise awareness of these amazing creatures,” said U.S. Postal Service Vice President of Sales Cliff Rucker, the dedicating official. “And the four stamps we’re dedicating today,” he added, “are truly beautiful works of art.” Joining Rucker in dedicating the stamps was American Philatelic Society Executive Director Scott English. U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Director Mary-Anne Penner served as master of ceremonies.