How long do cardinals live?
The oldest Northern Cardinal on record lived to 28.5 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild cardinals live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 28.5 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–3 per season
- Size
- 8.3–9.1 in, 1.5–1.7 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 10
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Northern Cardinal can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Cardinals usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–5 eggs and raises 1–3 per season, with eggs taking 11–13 days to hatch.
How cardinals compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other cardinals and allies on this site.
- Black-headed Grosbeak25 years
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak24 years
- Western Tanager15.3 years
- Painted Bunting12 years
- Scarlet Tanager11.9 years
- Indigo Bunting11 years
More about cardinals
Frequently asked
How long do cardinals live?
The longest-lived Northern Cardinal on record reached 28.5 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild cardinals live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Northern Cardinal when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Northern Cardinal ever recorded?
28.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Northern Cardinal raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–5 eggs and raise 1–3 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info