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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 male Red Crossbill (pg. 230) has dark brown wings and a thinner crossed bill. The Cedar Waxwing (pg. 104) has a small dark bill. The female Northern Cardinal appears similar to juvenile Cardinal, but the juvenile has a dark bill. Look for the bright red bill of female Cardinal.
Stan’s Notes: A familiar backyard bird. Look for the male feeding female during courtship. Male feeds young of the first brood by himself while female builds second nest. The name comes from the Latin word cardinalis, which means “important.” Very territorial in spring, it will fight its own reflection in a window. 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.
