Northern Cardinals in New Hampshire

Northern Cardinals live in New Hampshire all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal species visit feeders in irruption years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward weed and grass seeds; sumac, hackberry and other persistent winter fruit; sunflower and safflower at feeders.

Humid continental, with the White Mountains dividing the southern lowlands from northern forest.

Across New Hampshire, cardinals typically nest from May–August. Nest site: open cup built by the female in dense shrubs, vine tangles or saplings, usually 1–15 ft up. Females lay 2–5 eggs, incubate for 11–13 days, and young leave the nest after 7–13 days.

Mild summers; nesting starts late May.

• Northern Cardinals don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, serviceberry, winterberry for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for New Hampshire, these 8 provide food or cover cardinals use:

Cardinals feed most actively at dawn and dusk and rarely use small-perch tube feeders. Place feeders within 10–15 ft of dense shrub cover they can retreat to.

• Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Safflower, Hulled sunflower chips, Cracked corn (sparingly).
• In New Hampshire's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal species visit feeders in irruption years.

Full diet breakdown for cardinals · Best feeder for cardinals