Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is a mid-sized songbird with a body length of 21 centimeters. It has a distinctive crest on the head and a mask on the face which is black in the male and gray in the female. The male is a vibrant red, while the female is a dull red-brown shade. The Northern Cardinal is mainly granivorous, but also feeds on insects and fruit. The male behaves territorially, marking out his territory with song. During courtship, the male feeds seed to the female beak-to-beak. A clutch of three to four eggs is laid, and two to four clutches are produced each year. It was once prized as a pet, but its sale as cage birds is now banned in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Picture of the Northern Cardinal has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
Original source: Northern Cardinal IUploaded by Snowmanradio
Author: Stephen Wolfe from Columbus, OH, USA

The Northern Cardinal is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Northern Cardinal is an amazing and very pretty bird as all of us already know… It is much admired and loved across the nation and is just so red that it has to be seen to be believed! Northern Cardinal Thanks to FWS for this great cardinal bird image You may not know that the Cardinals are in fact a large family of different passerine birds that are found on both of the North and More

* Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis * Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus * Vermilion Cardinal, Cardinalis phoeniceus * Genus Piranga (from Thraupidae) * Rose-throated Tanager, Piranga roseogularis * Hepatic Tanager, Piranga flava * Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea * Summer Tanager, Piranga More

The Northern Cardinal or Redbird or Common Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis. It can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico. It can also be found on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is found in woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and swamps. The Northern Cardinal is a mid-sized songbird with a body length of 21 centimeters. More

The Northern Cardinal has a large range, estimated globally at 5,800,000 square kilometers. Native to North America, Guatemala, and Belize, and now found in the Cayman Islands and Honduras, this bird prefers wetland, forest, and shrubland ecosystems, though it can live in former forests and urban areas. The global population of this bird is estimated at 100,000,000 individuals and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. More

The northern cardinal is a bright red song bird that is popular in many winter photographs. The northern cardinal is unmistakable this time of year. The brilliant red plumage and long tail show up brightly against snow banks. They are also the first to cheer winter on during the first bright days of the season. The cardinal name originates with the Roman Catholic Church as the colors match the red and black robes worn by cardinals. More

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Description: - * Size: 8 to 9 inches (21-23 cm) * Wingspan: 10 to 12 inches (25-31 cm) * Weight: 1.48 to 1.69 ounces (42-48 g) This is a medium sized songbird. It has a crest on its head, a heavy, conical red bill and a face that is surrounded by black. More

Male Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are all red with the exception of the black patch around their thick triangular or conical bill. Their bright color, and the pointed crest make them instantly identifiable by bird enthusiasts. They keep this bright red plumage year round, and it is very striking in snow. photo by Hollingsworth us Wildlife Norther Cardinal male The female is brownish with some red on the wings, and tail. More

The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. They’re a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness, and style: a shade of red you can’t take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and warm red accents. Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards. More

The Northern Cardinal is one of three birds in the genus Cardinalis and is included in the family Cardinalidae, which is made up of passerine birds found in North and South America. The Northern Cardinal was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae. It was initially included in the genus Loxia, which now contains only crossbills. More

Listen to 2 examples of a Northern Cardinal's song from the Library of Natural Sounds: Northern Cardinal wave file The common and familiar Northern Cardinal is a bird whose range has expanded northward in the last 100 years. Originally a bird of the Southeast, the Northern Cardinal's range expanded north and northwest along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. In 1886 this cardinal was found only occasionally north of the Ohio River. More

Northern cardinal sitting on a branch. The northern cardinal adds a splash of color to the winter landscape, and their songs are a welcome chorus that announces the arrival of spring. Cardinals are among the most popular backyard birds in the United States. They are so adaptable that they readily nest in ornamental shrubs and feed right at your kitchen window bird feeder. More

The northern cardinal is the state bird in seven states, a sign of the popularity of this brilliantly colored species. The northern cardinal male, all red with black facial markings is always welcome at bird feeders. The diet of the northern cardinal depends on what foods are available as the seasons change, with seeds and insects making up the bulk of this bird's menu. Seeds - 1. More

Northern Cardinals are probably the most easily recognized bird in our area, with the possible exception of the American Crow. Male and female cardinals are eight to nine inches long. Males are usually bright red with a black face. Females are tan with some red on the head, wings, and tail. Both sexes have a crest (pointy feathers on top of the head). Immature (young) cardinals look more like females than males. More

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis = Cardinal Characteristics Range Habitat Diet Life Cycle Behavior Classification Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae Genus: Cardinalis Cardinal Click on the images for a larger view. Characteristics CardinalThe cardinal is about eight inches in length. More

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) were called "Redbirds" where I grew up. It is also known as the Virginia nightingale. It is a Christmas symbol and ranges (in the north) from southern Canada and south to northern Guatemala and Belize. It inhabits forest edges, thickets, gardens, backyards, shrubby areas and orchards. The bright red male Cardinal is so beautiful and has such a lovely song that it was once trapped and sold as a caged song bird. More

The Northern Cardinal is one of the most popular birds in the United States. It is one of the first birds a child learns to recognize and most adults, birders and non-birders alike recognize it on sight. Its bright red coloring is distinctive. The Cardinal is a songbird, but unlike many songbirds, both the male and female can be heard singing. They chirp and sing throughout the year rather than just in the spring. More

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) = Photograph of the Northern Cardinal TPWD More

The Northern Cardinal or "Redbird" is probably one of most popular visitors to backyard bird feeders. Its range extends over most of the eastern USA, parts of extreme southeastern Canada, and south through Mexico to Belize. It has also been introduced to Hawaii. Its variable call, a loud "cheer cheer cheer" or "purty purty purty," is sung by both sexes and can be heard year round. Cardinals are nonmigratory, but some movement does occur in the later summer and fall. More

The Northern Cardinal, a frequent visitor to bird feeders is one of the most admired backyard bird species. A bird so admired that seven states have named it as their states bird. Cardinal Description - The male is a bright red bird with a pointed crest on the top of his head. The female is mostly buff brown in color with some red on her head, wings, and tail. Both have small black masks on their faces that surround the bill and eyes. More

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Cardinalidae
Genus : Cardinalis
Species : cardinalis
Authority : (Linnaeus, 1758)