Read an Excerpt
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Size: 8–9" (20–22.5 cm)
Female: buff brown bird with a black mask, a large reddish bill and red tinges on the crest and wings
Male: red with a large crest and bill and a black mask extending from the face to the throat
Juvenile: same as female, but with a blackish-gray bill
Nest: cup; female builds; 2–3 broods per year
Eggs: 3–4; bluish white with brown markings
Incubation: 12–13 days; female and male incubate
Fledging: 9–10 days; female and male feed the young
Migration: non-migrator
Food: seeds, insects, fruit; comes to seed feeders
Compare: The Cedar Waxwing (pg. 129) has a small dark bill. The juvenile Northern Cardinal looks like the adult female but with a dark bill. Look for the reddish bill to identify the female Northern Cardinal.
Stan’s Notes: A familiar backyard bird. Seen in a variety of habitats, including parks. Usually likes thick vegetation. One of the few species in which both females and males sing. Can be heard all year. Listen for its “whata-cheer-cheer-cheer” territorial call in spring. Watch for a male feeding a female during courtship. The male also feeds the young of the first brood while the female builds a second nest. Territorial in spring, fighting its own reflection in a window or other reflective surface. Non-territorial in winter, gathering in small flocks of up to 20 birds. Makes short flights from cover to cover, often landing on the ground. Cardinalis denotes importance, as represented by the red priestly garments of Catholic cardinals.
