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Cardinalis cardinalis

(Northern Cardinal)

Interesting Facts:

  • The "redbird" is a popular visitor to backyards and is usually the last songbird bird in the evening to eat at the birdfeeders.

Conservation Status

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Population Analysis

  • For the 56,743 species in the Class Aves (Birds), we average 146.12 observations each in our database; for the Northern Cardinal, we have 425 observations. Compared to other species in this Class, this species is somewhat common.
  • A two-sample t-test can be used to determine whether the trend in observations of the Northern Cardinal is the same as the trend in observations of Aves. Is this species just as common, as a proportion of all observations, as it once was? The answer is yes, changes in observation rate of this species do not significantly differ from changes in observation rate of its Class.

Status

This species is common and not listed as being of special conservation concern in any part of its southeastern range.

Taxonomy

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Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001

Physical Description

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Family Fringillidae:

A Family of seed-eating, small to moderately large passerine birds that have strong, stubby beaks, which in some species can be quite large. They have a bouncing flight, alternating flapping with gliding on closed wings. Most sing well.

Adult Female:

Head: buffy golden brown Crest: olive with red tip Face: Lores: dusky Body: Underparts: buffy golden brown Upperparts: buff-brown Tail: olive with red wash.

Adult Male:

Head: Crest: red Face: Eye Color: black mask surrounds black eyes Bill: reddish Shape: conical.

Color:

Male is red with a black face. Female has a red tail, wings, and crest; the remainder of her body is brown. Both sexes have red bills, but juvenile cardinals have black bills.

Size/Age/Growth:

About 7.5 to 9.25 inches long, with a wingspan of 10 to 12 inches. Adults weigh about 1.6 ounces.

Images:

Distribution

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Range and Population

Oceania; North America

Habitat

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The Northern Cardinal prefers wooded or shrubby areas in either urban, suburban, or open woodlands. It is a common inhabitant of disturbed habitat, often found near houses.

Diet

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The diet of the Northern Cardinal includes insects, seeds, and fruits. Most of the food is picked off the ground or vegetation.

Reproduction

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The breeding season begins in late March, peaks in May, and extends until early August. The breeding habitat preferred by this species includes shrubby areas, thickets, or areas with a very dense understory. The nest is usually in a shrub 0.3-4.5 m (1-15 feet) above the ground. The nest is cup-shaped and constructed from plant stems, twigs, grass, bark strips, and other plant material. The female lays 2-5 (usually 3-4) eggs that she incubates for 12-13 days. The young are altricial and fledge 9-10 days after hatching. The male will care for the young while the female starts the next nest. The young are dependent on adults for 2-4 weeks after they leave the nest.

  • Breeding Habitat: Successional-scrub
  • Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
  • Nest Type: Open-cup
  • Clutch Size: 2-5
  • Length of Incubation: 12-13 days
  • Days to Fledge: 9-10
  • Number of Broods: 2, 3, occasionally 4

Migration

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Nonmigratory

Song/Voice

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The Northern Cardinal song is usually loud, variable, whistled notes, sometimes sounding like cheer cheer cheer or purty purty purty.


Cardinalis cardinalis
Recordist: Tony Phillips Date Recorded: May 01, 1996 Location of Recording: Long Island


Trill
Recordist: Tony Phillips Date Recorded: June 01, 1996 Location of Recording: Long Island


Peew, peew!
Recordist: Tony Phillips Date Recorded: April 01, 1997 Location of Recording: Long Island


Whirr-a-chee!
Recordist: Tony Phillips Date Recorded: May 01, 1997 Location of Recording: Long Island


Male and female keep in touch by Chipping
Recordist: Tony Phillips Date Recorded: May 01, 1998 Location of Recording: Long Island


Cardinalis cardinalis
Recordist: John R. Sauer Copyright Holder: John R. Sauer Permissions for Use: See here.

Similar Species

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Pyrrhuloxia

Members of the genus Cardinalis:

There are approximately 52 species in this genus.: C. canicaudus sinuatus · C. C. (Northern Cardinal) · C. C. affinis · C. C. bermudianus · C. C. canicauda · C. C. canicaudas · C. C. canicaudus · C. C. C. · C. C. carneus · C. C. clintoni · C. C. coccinea · C. C. coccineus · C. C. flammiger · C. C. flammigerus · C. C. florida · C. C. floridana · C. C. floridanus (Northern Cardinal) · C. C. ignea · C. C. igneus (Northern Cardinal) · C. C. litoralis · C. C. littoralis · C. C. magirostris · C. C. magnirostris · C. C. mariae · C. C. phillipsi · C. C. phoeniceus · C. C. princeps · C. C. saturatus · C. C. seftoni · C. C. ssp · C. C. superba · C. C. superbus (Northern Cardinal) · C. C. townsend · C. C. townsendi · C. C. x · C. C. yucatanica · C. C. yucatanicus · C. celaeno · C. clintoni · C. phoeniccus · C. phoeniceus · C. phoenicus · C. saturatus · C. sinuatus (Pyrrhuloxia) · C. sinuatus fuluescens · C. sinuatus fulvescens · C. sinuatus fulvesgens · C. sinuatus peninsulae · C. sinuatus sinuata · C. sinuatus sinuatus · C. sinuatus ssp · C. sinuatus texana

Members of the genus Cardilia:

There are approximately 3 species in this genus.: C. michelotti · C. semisulcata · C. toyamaensis

More Info

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Notes

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Identifiers:

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Last Revised: March 01, 2008