Northern Cardinal

Overview

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a mid-sized perching songbird native to North America, characterised by sexual dimorphism and a prominent head crest. It is the state bird of seven US states and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Body length of 21–23.5 cm with a wingspan of 25–31 cm.
• Adult males are brilliant crimson red with a black face mask, while females are fawn-coloured with greyish-brown tones and a grey or black mask.
• Both sexes have a prominent raised crest and a strong, cone-shaped coral-coloured beak.
• Legs and feet are dark pink-brown, and the iris is brown.

Habitat

The species inhabits woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands across southeastern Canada and the eastern United States, extending south to Belize and Guatemala. It is also found on the Pacific slope of Mexico and has been introduced to Bermuda and Hawaii.

Diet

Mainly granivorous, the diet consists of up to 90% weed seeds, grains, and fruits, though insects and snails are also consumed. The bird is a ground feeder that hops through shrubbery to find food, and during courtship, males feed seeds to females beak-to-beak.

Did you know?

A study in 2016 found that northern cardinals biologically suppress West Nile virus upon infection, unlike other bird species. Additionally, a captive cardinal achieved an age of 28.5 years.