Northern Cardinal
Facts
Weight : 1.25–2 oz.Length : 7.5–8.5"Wingspan : 10.25–12"Sexual Maturity : 1 yearBreeding Season : March–AugustNumber of Eggs : 2–5,usually 3–4Incubation Period : 12–13 daysFledging Period : 10–11 daysBreeding Interval : Up to 4 broods a yearTypical Diet : Seeds, berries and insectsLifespan : Up to 28.5 years in captivityKey Features- Both male and female sing year-round and have an extensive repertoire of calls.
- Bright-red plumage and bold nature make the bird a familiar sight.
- The cardinal rarely migrates and usually does not wander more than a few miles from its home.
- Can adapt to habitats ranging from deep forests to city gardens.
Found in Canada, the United States from Maine to Florida and as far west as Minnesota and the western prairies in the Southwest, south to Mexico and Belize; also in Bermuda and Hawaii.
The Northern cardinal displays a unique combination of bold song, color and character; it prefers to stay close to the place of its birth and rarely migrates.
Habitat
Also known as the red-bird, the northern cardinal lives in dense thickets along field borders, in hedges, swamps, stream banks, parks and gardens. The habitat of this mainly nonmigratory bird is temperate, but its range can include desert conditions. On the arid Marias Islands off Mexico, the cardinal gets enough water by drinking the early-morning dew. The cardinal lives year-round from the Dakotas, southern Ontario, and Nova Scotia to the Gulf Coast, and from southern Texas west through Arizona and south through Mexico to Guatemala. The bird was introduced in Hawaii in 1929.
Feeding
Seeds, fruits, insects and spiders make up the cardinal’s diet. In the wild, the cardinal gleans food from nearby trees and shrubs. Its wedge-shaped beak allows the bird to eat all kinds of seeds, which it holds with its grooved, upper mandible while moving the lower mandible forward to crush and husk the seed. The bird then swallows the seed’s inner “meat.” During fall, the cardinal ascends to tops of trees and bushes in search of grapes and berries; in the winter, the bird picks up seeds and forages around haystacks at farms. The more domesticated cardinals collect food from town gardens as well as from backyard bird feeders, favoring sunflower seeds and cracked corn. Their full menu includes 51 kinds of insects and spiders, 33 kinds of fruit and 39 types of seeds.
Behavior
The cardinal’s song plays a role in all aspects of its life, from
socialization to courtship to nesting. The male swells his throat,
spreads his tail and drops his wing as he sways from side to side,
appearing to delight at the sound of his own voice. Females begin
singing their softer song in March, while males sing year-round. Both sexes defend their territories, usually a few acres in size, through the songs that they sing. The female drives out intruding females, and the males fiercely guard against other males. Songs also serve as signals, letting respective partners know when they are coming or going. The young can sing as early as 3 weeks old, but they do not aquire adult phrasing for two months.
Did you Know
- Northern cardinals are named for the brilliant red robes worn by the Roman Catholic cardinals.
- The cardinal is the state bird of several northern and southeastern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
- According to Cherokee legend, the northern cardinal was originally brown in color. The bird helped a wolf, which, in thanks, told the cardinal where to find a rock with red paint. The cardinal then painted himself red.
Breeding
Fiercely loyal, the cardinal forms strong bonds and mates for life. During courtship, the male not only serenades his prospective mate but also feeds her. The love serenade is clear and sweet, often lasting all day. Nest building starts in March and April. The female builds a cuplike nest made of dry leaves and twigs, usually in a tree 4–5' above ground near a stream used for drinking and bathing.She adds grass and grapevines to complete the woven structure, before adding a final lining of softer materials, including rootlets and hair. It takes her about 3–9 days to complete the structure; she builds for a few hours in the morning, then a few more in the evening. The male continues his song as the female incubates the 3–4 dull white eggs with brown spots. The hatchlings are blind and helpless, with pink skin sparsely covered with gray down. Depending on the region, the cardinal pair raises from 2–4 broods during the season. The male brings insects to the young, which have large gaping mouths with red linings — easy
targets when being fed. The male also guards the first nest, while the female prepares a new nest, usually about 30' away. Once the new young hatch, the juveniles of the first brood, about 3–4 weeks old, are chased from the parents’ territory.
Conservation
With the northern cardinal’s ability to adapt to almost any environment, this abundant species does not appear to be in any immediate danger. The bird has adapted to the Everglades of Florida and the evergreens of New York, the deserts of Mexico and suburban gardens of New Hampshire. Though sought after for the caged-bird trade in the 19th century because of its songs and brilliant plumage, the northern cardinal is currently protected. Its domestic nature, brilliant color and pleasant song make the bird welcome at bird feeders in gardens and backyards in populated areas throughout its range.
The northern cardinal is a familiar and welcome sight in its yearround homes, with its rich red plumage and melodic songs.
Bill
The short, wedge-shaped red bill has sharp edges, which allow the cardinal to crack open large and tough seeds. The lower mandible is broader than the upper mandible and very strong.
Female
The predominantly brown female has a crest similar to the male’s; her tail, however, is proportionately shorter than the male’s. The base of the bill has a blackish-gray area, but it is not as noticeable as the male’s.
Male plumage
Apart from its black mask and bib, the male cardinal’s colorings are eye-catching shades of scarlet. The male’s brilliant red plumage is slightly glossed; the tufted crown is pointed, and can be raised and lowered at will.
Feet
The strong legs and feet are adapted mainly for perching. The feet have three toes facing forward and one behind; all toes have slender claws for support.
Juvenile
The young cardinal resembles an adult female, but is a richer brown with a darker bill. Its crown feathers are not as long as an adult’s. By the end of the first fall molt, the juvenile will attain adult plumage, but the bill-color change takes a few extra weeks.
Related Species
The northern cardinal is one of several species in the genus Cardinalis. Its closest relative in North America is the pyrrhuloxia, C. sinuatus; a South American relative is the vermilion cardinal, C. phoeniceus. These birds are among 47 species in the family Emberizidae. The family includes the yellow cardinal, Gubernatrix cristata, as well as the red-capped cardinal, Paroaria gularis.
Many outdoor activities may fall prey to the “summer doldrums” during these warm and steamy months…but backyard bird feeding is not one of them.
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