The Northern Cardinal: A Bright Red Bird
State Bird for:
The Northern cardinal, also known as Cardinalis cardinalis, is a bright and beautiful bird. You may have seen one in your backyard, especially if you live in North America. These birds are easy to recognize because of their bright red feathers and their cheerful songs.
What Does the Northern Cardinal Look Like?
The Northern cardinal is famous for its bright red color. The male cardinal has stunning red feathers all over its body. On the other hand, female cardinals are mostly light brown with hints of red on their wings, tail, and crest. Both males and females have a tall crest on their heads and black markings around their beaks, which make them look like they’re wearing a mask.
Cardinals are medium-sized birds. They are about 9 inches long from head to tail. These birds have a short, thick beak, which is perfect for cracking seeds. Their strong beaks help them find food easily.
Where Do Cardinals Live?
Northern cardinals live in many places across North America. You can find them in forests, parks, and gardens. They like to build their nests in bushes, trees, or dense shrubs where they can hide and stay safe.
Cardinals don’t migrate, so they stay in the same place year-round. You can spot them even during winter when the snow makes their red feathers stand out.
What Do Cardinals Eat?
Cardinals love to eat seeds, fruits, and insects. Their favorite seeds come from sunflowers, but they also eat many other kinds of seeds. In the summer, cardinals eat more insects, like beetles and grasshoppers. In the winter, they mostly eat seeds and berries.
If you want to attract cardinals to your yard, put out bird feeders with sunflower seeds or safflower seeds. Cardinals also enjoy eating fruit, so you can place apple slices or berries out for them.
Why Are Cardinals Important?
Cardinals are more than just beautiful birds. They help keep nature healthy by spreading seeds. When they eat fruits and seeds, they sometimes drop seeds on the ground. These seeds can grow into new plants and trees, which helps the environment.
Cardinals also help control insect populations. By eating insects like beetles and caterpillars, they help plants grow better.
How Do Cardinals Communicate?
Cardinals are great singers! They have a variety of calls and songs they use to communicate with each other. Male cardinals often sing to defend their territory and warn other birds to stay away. Both male and female cardinals sing, which is special because many female birds don’t sing as much as males.
Cardinal songs are cheerful and easy to recognize. One of their calls sounds like “cheer, cheer, cheer” or “birdy, birdy, birdy.” Listening for these calls is a fun way to find cardinals nearby.
How Do Cardinals Raise Their Babies?
When it’s time to lay eggs, the female cardinal builds a nest. She uses twigs, leaves, and grasses to make a safe place for her babies. The female cardinal usually lays three to four eggs at a time.
After about two weeks, the eggs hatch, and the baby birds, called nestlings, are born. Both parents take care of the nestlings by feeding them insects and keeping them warm. In just a few weeks, the baby cardinals are ready to leave the nest and explore the world.
Fun Facts About the Northern Cardinal
- State bird: The Northern cardinal is the state bird of seven U.S. states! These states are:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Bright red feathers: Male cardinals get their red color from their diet. They eat fruits and seeds that contain special pigments called carotenoids, which give their feathers the bright red color.
- Female singers: Unlike most songbirds, both male and female cardinals sing. The female’s song is often softer, but it’s just as beautiful!
- Reflective battles: Cardinals sometimes see their reflection in windows or mirrors and mistake it for another bird. They will attack the reflection, thinking it’s a rival.
- Cardinal couples: Cardinals are known to mate for life. They often stay in pairs year-round and work together to feed and protect their young.
- Year-round residents: Unlike some birds, cardinals don’t migrate. This means you can see them throughout the year, even in the winter!
- Cheerful songs: One of the cardinal’s most famous calls sounds like “cheer, cheer, cheer.” This cheerful song can brighten anyone’s day!
- Great seed spreaders: Cardinals help the environment by spreading seeds. As they eat fruit and seeds, they sometimes drop seeds, which can grow into new plants and trees.
- Cardinal babies: Cardinals usually raise two to three broods each year. Both parents work together to feed the chicks, and after a few weeks, the young cardinals leave the nest.
- Popular backyard bird: The Northern cardinal is one of the most popular backyard birds in North America. If you want to attract them, provide bird feeders with sunflower seeds and a birdbath for fresh water.
How to Help Cardinals in Your Neighborhood
You can help cardinals by making your yard a welcoming place for them. Plant native bushes and trees where they can build nests. Offer food like sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, or fruit. Fresh water, such as a birdbath, is also great for attracting cardinals. By creating a safe and friendly space, you can enjoy watching these bright birds all year long.
Conclusion
The Northern cardinal is a beautiful, bright red bird that lives in many parts of North America. Whether they are singing, feeding, or nesting, cardinals are always fun to watch. By learning about these birds, you can better appreciate how they help keep nature in balance. So next time you hear a cheerful song or spot a flash of red, you’ll know a Northern cardinal is nearby!