Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Aves › Passeriformes › Cardinalidae › Cardinalis
Conservation status: least_concern
The Northern Cardinal is a strikingly beautiful songbird with a prominent crest on its head and a thick, cone-shaped red bill that make it instantly recognizable. Both males are brilliant red while females are tan with reddish tinges, and their loud, cheerful "cheer-cheer-cheer" song is one of the most familiar sounds in eastern North American forests and gardens.
How To Identify
Males are strikingly colored, boasting a vivid scarlet plumage and distinctive crest. Females are generally duller, exhibiting warmer brown tones with reddish accents on their crest and tail.
Habitat
It inhabits dense shrubland, woodland edges, gardens, and thickets across eastern and central North America, preferring areas with thick cover and accessible seed sources.
Behaviour
Cardinals are primarily seed-eating birds that visit feeders in small flocks during winter, and males are known for their loud, clear whistle song that they repeat throughout the year.
Native Range
The Northern Cardinal is native to Northern America and Southern America.
Did You Know?
In Cherokee mythology, the cardinal is associated with the sun and is a symbol of good luck.
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