The Northern Cardinal, the famous red bird
Discover all about attracting these wonderful birds, understanding how to raise them in your backyard, and enjoying them.
Imagine this scene: You're sipping your coffee on a cold February morning, and suddenly a crimson flash catches your eye. A northern cardinal lands on your bird feeder, and for a moment, everything else fades away.
That's the magic of cardinals. I remember the first time one appeared in my garden in 2013; I immediately ran to get my camera. And now? I have permanent pairs. Three different pairs visit my bird feeders, and I swear I can tell them apart by their personalities. One male is very aggressive with the other birds, and the other is much calmer, just waiting his turn.
If you enjoy birdwatching in your garden, you'll likely also enjoy exploring other brightly colored species. Take a look at the stunning bluebirds of Illinois, or immerse yourself in the incredible diversity of birds in Florida when you have the chance.
So, what does this guide cover? Everything about cardinals. What they eat, where they live, how to attract them to your home, and even what it might mean if they appear at just the right moment. Whether you're a novice birder or a seasoned veteran, you'll always find something new to discover about these northern birds .
Getting to know the Cardinals team
Well, what makes the Northern Cardinal so special? Almost everything about it is eye-catching.
Appearance of a male cardinal
The males are what most people think of—that striking red color. Completely red, from head to tail, with a sharp black mask on the face that resembles a miniature superhero's mask. They have a crest on their heads that stands erect when they are alert or excited. In terms of size, they are somewhere between a sparrow and a robin—perhaps 8 or 9 inches long.
What a beak! It's thick and strong, and a bright reddish-orange color. Designed for cracking seeds, it's incredibly efficient. I've seen them devour sunflower seeds, which are a real nuisance to small birds.
According to studies related to ornithology , the scientific name Cardinalis cardinalis comes from the resemblance to the red robes worn by Catholic cardinals.
Female cardinals are not given enough credit.
And now we come to you. Cardinals are highly valued, making support a matter of appreciation. It's true they aren't bright red, but rather a lighter shade with reddish tinges on the wings and distinctive tail. But most importantly, this color is absolutely magnificent. (Sex at home)
In addition, there's a practical reason. The females sit on their nests for weeks. The bright red color would act as a neon sign saying "Eat me" to every hawk and cat in the neighborhood. The brown color blends perfectly with the twigs and leaves.
Both have a strong orange beak and a similar basic shape. Once you know what to look for, identifying the females is just as easy as identifying the males.
Cardinal's voices
The Northern Cardinal's AppealThe sounds that, once learned, you hear everywhere. It's a loud, clear, and sweet sound. It's usually described as "chir-chir-chir," "beriti-beriti-beriti," or "berdi-berdi-berdi." Something like that.
The northern cardinals have a diverse repertoire of songs, with researchers documenting more than a dozen different versions. Each male has his own set of songs and distinctive style.
Here's a fascinating fact: both males and females sing. This is quite rare in the bird world, where only males usually sing. But what about female cardinals? They sing just as much, and perhaps even more, during the breeding season. They sing from the nest, exchanging songs with their mate.
The alarm call is totally different - a sharp, metallic "chip" sound. Short and urgent. When cardinals start making that sound, pay attention. Usually means a predator's nearby.
Something I noticed: Cardinals learn songs from each other. Young males pick up songs from dad and from neighboring males. This creates local "dialects" - cardinals in different regions sound slightly different.
Cardinal Territory and Habitat
People always ask: where does the cardinal bird live? Short answer: pretty much the entire eastern half of North America these days.
Their Range is Expanding
Cardinals used to be mainly southern birds. But over the last hundred years or so, they've been steadily moving north. You find them now from southern Canada all the way down through Mexico. Every eastern state has them. They're even showing up in the west - Arizona, New Mexico, parts of California.
Why the expansion? Couple of reasons. Climate's changing, winters are milder. But also - and this is big - bird feeders. People feeding birds in winter means cardinals can survive in places that used to be too harsh.
Cardinals like what biologists call "edge habitat." That's where forest meets open space. Woodland edges, parks, suburbs, gardens. They need thick bushes or small trees for cover and nesting, plus open ground for finding food.
Suburban neighborhoods are basically cardinal paradise. We've created exactly the habitat they prefer - scattered trees, foundation plantings, hedges, open lawns. Add a bird feeder and you're golden.
Speaking of regional birds, check out Georgia's state birds and key species for more about cardinals in the Southeast.
Winter Habits
So where do cardinals go in winter? Nowhere. They don't migrate. At all.
Those cardinals you see in July? Same ones you'll see in January. They're year-round residents wherever they live. This is actually a big part of why people love them so much. Most colorful birds head south for winter. Cardinals stick around, bringing that splash of red to snowy landscapes.
Their behavior changes though. During breeding season, cardinals are territorial and aggressive toward other cardinals. Come winter, they get social. You'll see small flocks, maybe 6-10 birds, moving through areas together. Sometimes they hang out with other species - chickadees, titmice, sparrows.
Cold weather makes them puff up. They trap air between their feathers for insulation. A cardinal in winter looks almost twice as big as one in summer because of all that fluffing. It's adorable, honestly.
Winter's tough on them though. They need tons of food to maintain body temperature. A cardinal can lose 10% of its body weight overnight in extreme cold. That's why winter feeding is so important if you're doing it.
Want to learn more about winter bird behavior? This
The Cardinal Menu
Understanding what do northern cardinals eat
Wild Diet
In nature, cardinals eat seeds, fruits, and insects. The mix changes with seasons. Summer means more protein - they're catching caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, whatever bugs they can find. They need that protein, especially when feeding nestlings.
Fall and winter shift to seeds and berries. Wild grapes, dogwood berries, sumac seeds, elderberries. Pretty much any small fruit or seed they can handle with that strong beak.
Spring brings different options. They eat tree buds, flowers, even sap. I've watched them strip flowers off my redbud tree every April. Looked it up - apparently flower buds are nutritious, high in early-season protein.
Feeder Favorites
What is the favorite food of cardinals at feeders? Black oil sunflower seeds. Hands down. Not even close.
They can crack them easily, they're packed with fat and protein, and cardinals just love them. If you only offer one food, make it black oil sunflower.
That said, they'll eat other stuff: - Safflower seeds (squirrels hate these, so bonus) - Cracked corn - Peanuts, shelled or not - White millet - Suet in winter - Mealworms if you're feeling generous
Cardinals naturally forage on the ground. They've adapted to feeders, but they prefer platforms or hoppers where they can perch comfortably. Tube feeders work if there are good perches.
Timing tip: Cardinals feed later than most birds. They're often the last ones at the feeder before dark. Keep food available at dusk and you'll see them coming in for that final meal.
Bringing Cardinals to Your Yard
Do you want to know how to attract cardinal birds ? It is certainly possible with the right preparation.
Food Setup
Start with the food. Black oil sunflower seeds placed in a platform or hopper feeder. Location matters - put it somewhere with shrubs or trees nearby. Cardinals like feeling safe while they eat.
What is the best bowl for feeding cardinals? Actually, skip bowls. Cardinals prefer platform feeders - flat surfaces where they can see around them while eating. The platform should be stable, fairly large, with good drainage.
Hopper feeders work great too. Those are the house-shaped ones with perches. Cardinals can grip the perch and crack seeds comfortably.
Ground feeding is natural for them. Scatter some seeds on the ground under feeders. Just keep it clean - moldy seed can make birds sick.
Habitat Elements
Cardinals need dense vegetation. Thick shrubs, small trees, evergreens. This is where they hide from predators, where they sleep at night, where they nest. Native shrubs work best - things like dogwood, viburnum, holly, elderberry, serviceberry.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends creating layered habitat - ground cover, shrubs at different heights, understory trees. This benefits tons of wildlife, not just cardinals.
Water is huge. Cardinals drink and bathe regularly. A simple birdbath works, but moving water is even better. I put a small solar fountain in my birdbath and bird activity tripled overnight.
Keep water fresh. Change it every couple days minimum. In winter, a heated birdbath is incredible if you live somewhere that freezes. Cardinals need water in winter too, maybe even more than summer since natural sources freeze.
Nesting Sites
Where does the cardinal bird nest? Usually found in dense shrubs or small trees, at a height of about 3 to 10 feet above the ground. Sometimes higher, sometimes lower, but that's the sweet spot.
The female builds the nest - a cup shape made from twigs, bark strips, grass, leaves. She lines it with fine grass, rootlets, sometimes hair. Takes about a week. The male tags along and sometimes brings materials, but she does the construction.
Cardinals don't use birdhouses. They're not cavity nesters. But you can provide good nesting habitat. Dense evergreens are perfect - holly, arborvitae, juniper. Deciduous shrubs that leaf out early work too.
Allow a portion of your yard to grow naturally with minimal maintenance. That brush pile in the corner? Cardinals might love it. Native plantings that get dense and tangled provide excellent nesting cover.
Birders in the Midwest might enjoy Michigan's must-see birds and Wisconsin's top species
Cardinal Life and Behavior
Once you start watching cardinals regularly, you notice patterns. Behaviors that repeat. Personalities even.
Partnerships
Cardinals typically mate for life. Or at least for several years. Pair bonds are strong. You'll see mated pairs together year-round, not just during breeding.
Courtship is sweet. The male feeds the female, passing her seeds beak-to-beak. It looks like kissing. He sings to her from high perches. She might sing back.
Males are involved dads. While she's incubating eggs (about two weeks), he brings food to her. After eggs hatch, both parents feed the babies. It's constant work - nestlings need food every few minutes, dawn to dusk.
Cardinals can raise multiple broods per season. Two or three if conditions are good. Breeding season runs from March through September in most places. That's a long season of parenting.
Territory Defense
Male cardinals get seriously territorial during breeding season. They'll attack their own reflection thinking it's an intruder. Windows, car mirrors, shiny hubcaps - anything reflective becomes an enemy.
This can go on for weeks. Every spring I've got at least one cardinal pecking at my windows. It's annoying (for me and probably for him), but mostly harmless.
To stop it, you need to break up the reflection. Cover the outside of the window with something. Soap it up, hang streamers, whatever works. Usually they give up after a few weeks once nesting is underway.
Territory size varies but averages a few acres. They defend this space aggressively against other cardinals. Other bird species? They mostly ignore them. It's specifically other cardinals they have issues with.
Molting Looks Rough
Cardinals molt once a year, usually late summer. They replace all their feathers gradually over several weeks.
During molt, they can look terrible. Patchy, scraggly, sometimes even bald on the head. Every August I get concerned messages about "sick" cardinals. Usually they're just molting. It's normal, they're fine.
Young cardinals look like dull females at first, with dark beaks instead of orange. Males gradually develop red coloring. By their first winter, males are mostly red but might have brown feathers mixed in. Full adult plumage comes the following summer.
Color connection: That brilliant red comes from carotenoids in their diet. Better nutrition means brighter red. Well-fed males tend to be more vivid, which is why females prefer them - bright red signals good foraging skills.
What Cardinals Mean to People
So what is the significance of seeing a cardinal bird? This goes beyond biology into cultural and personal meaning.
Symbolism Across Cultures
In many spiritual traditions, cardinals are seen as messengers. Specifically, seeing a cardinal is often interpreted as a visit from someone who's passed away. That bright red bird showing up at just the right moment feels significant to a lot of people.
Whether you believe that literally or see it more metaphorically, cardinals definitely carry emotional weight. They're state birds for seven states - more than any other species. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia all chose cardinals.
Native American traditions often connect cardinals with vitality, relationships, and renewal. That red color represents life energy.
In Christian symbolism, the color red and the emblem have been associated with the blood of Christ and with the robes of Catholic cardinals - which is in fact the source of the bird's name.
Personal relationships are important
I believe cardinals have a special resonance because they are steadfast. They appear when other birds have disappeared. That red flash in the depths of winter brings hope, radiance, and life when everything else seems dull or dead.
People develop genuine bonds with cardinals. You begin to recognize the pair that visits your garden. You notice when they bring their chicks to the feeder. You worry if you don't see them for a few days.
This connection with nature, even just in your backyard, is incredibly important for mental health. Research consistently shows that birdwatching reduces stress and improves mood. Cardinals, with their vibrant colors and clear vision, are particularly adept at this.
Preservation status and challenges
Overall, the situation for cardinals is very good. Their numbers are stable, and even increasing in many areas.
Current situation
Data from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology shows that cardinal populations have actually increased in recent decades in many areas. They are classified as "Least Concern" in terms of conservation efforts.
But it still faces challenges. Habitat loss is affecting it, especially the loss of shrub edges. Pesticides are also killing the insects it needs to raise its young.