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Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Size: 8-9" (20-22.5 cm)
Female: buff brown bird with tinges of red on crest and wings, a black mask and large red bill
Male: red bird with a black mask extending from face down to chin and throat, large red bill and crest
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 young
Migration: non-migrator
Food: seeds, insects, fruit; comes to seed feeders
Compare: The Cedar Waxwing (pg. 143) has a small dark bill. Female Northern Cardinal appears similar to the juvenile Cardinal, but juvenile has a dark bill. Look for the bright red bill of female Northern Cardinal.
Stan’s Notes: A familiar backyard bird. Look for the male feeding the female during courtship. Male feeds young of the first brood by himself while female builds a second nest. The name comes from the Latin word cardinalis, which means “important,” as represented by Catholic cardinals in their scarlet priestly garments. Very territorial in spring, it fights its own reflection in a window or other reflective surface. Non-territorial during winter, gathering in small flocks of up to 20 birds. Both the female and male sing and can be heard any time of year. Listen for its “whata-cheer-cheer-cheer” territorial call in spring.
