Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis. Mostly seeds and fruit, with insects fed heavily to nestlings in spring and summer.
- Scientific name
- Cardinalis cardinalis
- Length
- 8.3–9.1 in
- Weight
- 1.5–1.7 oz
- Nest
- Open cup built by the female in dense shrubs, vine tangles or saplings, usually 1–15 ft up
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–13 days
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
Identification
- Male entirely red with a black face mask around a thick red-orange bill
- Female warm buff-brown with red tinges in the crest, wings and tail
- Pointed crest on both sexes; heavy conical seed-cracking bill
Voice
Loud, clear whistled phrases ("cheer-cheer-cheer", "birdie-birdie"); both sexes sing. Call is a sharp metallic chip.
Diet and feeding
Mostly seeds and fruit, with insects fed heavily to nestlings in spring and summer.
Northern Cardinals by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Florida | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Hawaii | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Maine | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | April–August |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | May–August |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | May–August |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | April–August |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | April–August |
| New York | Year-round resident | April–August |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | April–August |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | April–August |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | March–August |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Texas | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | April–August |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | May–August |
Frequently asked
What do cardinals eat?
Mostly seeds and fruit, with insects fed heavily to nestlings in spring and summer. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, safflower, hulled sunflower chips, cracked corn (sparingly).
How big is a Northern Cardinal?
8.3–9.1 in long and 1.5–1.7 oz.
Do cardinals use birdhouses?
No. Open cup built by the female in dense shrubs, vine tangles or saplings, usually 1–15 ft up.
Sources
- Northern Cardinal — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Cardinal life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Cardinal — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.