Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family CARDINALIDAE

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

The brilliantly colored Northern Cardinal has the record for popularity as a state bird: in the United States, it holds that title in seven states. This common bird is a winter fixture at snow-covered bird feeders throughout the Northeast, but it only spread to New York and New England in the mid-20th century.

Cool Facts

• Population density and range of the Northern Cardinal has increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.

• The female Northern Cardinal sings, often from the nest. The song may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.

• The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.

• Brighter red males hold territories with denser vegetation, feed at higher rates, and have greater reproductive success than duller males.

Description

• Size: 21-23 cm (8-9 in)
• Wingspan: 25-31 cm (10-12 in)
• Weight: 42-48 g (1.48-1.69 ounces)

• Medium-sized songbird.
• Large crest on head.
• Heavy, conical red bill.
• Face surrounded by black.
• Male entirely brilliant red.
• Female grayish-tan with red tail and wings.

Sex Differences

Male brilliant red, female tan.

Male

Entirely red with black face mask extending from lores to eyes and down to upper chest.

Female

Grayish tan. Red in wings, tail, and crest. Face and breast have some red. Face mask gray to black. Conical bill red to orange.

Immature

Juvenile similar to female, but with black bill.

Similar Species

• Pyrrhuloxia similar to female, but has rounded yellowish bill, lacks dark face mask, and has taller and more pointed crest.

Sound

Song a series of clear whistles, the first down-slurred and ending in a slow trill. "Cheer, cheer, cheer, what, what, what, what." Call a sharp "chip."

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Resident from southeastern Canada, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Maine southward through southern Florida and Mexico to Belize and Guatemala. Also locally in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Introduced to Hawaii and Bermuda.

Habitat

Areas with shrubs and small trees, including forest edges, hedgerows, and suburbs.

Food

Seeds, fruits, buds, and insects.

Behavior

Foraging

Common at bird feeders, especially at dawn and dusk.

Reproduction

Nest Type

An open bowl of weed stems and twigs, filled with leaves and grapevine bark. Lined with grass. Often contains paper or plastic in outer layer. Placed in thick tangle of vines or twigs in a shrub or small tree, 3-20 feet above ground, usually below 10 feet.

Egg Description

Color: Buffy white with medium brown spots.

Size: 22.4-27.9 mm x 16.9-19.6 mm.
(0.88-1.1 in x 0.67-0.77 in)

Incubation period: 11-13 days.

Clutch Size

Usually 3 eggs. Range: 1-5.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless, with sparse gray down.
Chicks fledge in 7-13 days.

Conservation Status

Population density and range increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. The cardinal benefits from park-like urban habitats and the presence of bird feeders. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.

Other Names

Cardinal rouge (French)
Cardenal rojo, Cardenal norteño, Cardenal común (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Halkin, S. L., and S. U. Linville. 1999. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). In The Birds of North America, No. 440 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.