Northern Cardinal in March
Where cardinals are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Northern Cardinal's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Northern Cardinal specifically, March is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 44 states and provinces where cardinals occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where cardinals are in March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, cardinals are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in March
Cardinals are not nesting in March. The season runs April–August at mid-latitudes, starting roughly a month earlier in the South.
Outside the nesting season, cardinals put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in March
- Weed and grass seeds
- Sumac, hackberry and other persistent winter fruit
- Sunflower and safflower at feeders
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.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
Full Northern Cardinal diet guide → · Best feeder for cardinals →
Watching cardinals this month
Cardinals are settled and predictable in March, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region cardinals are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Northern Cardinal month by month
Northern Cardinal by state
Frequently asked
Where are cardinals in March?
In March, cardinals are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do cardinals nest in March?
No — cardinals typically nest April through August at mid-latitudes.
What do cardinals eat in March?
Weed and grass seeds; Sumac, hackberry and other persistent winter fruit; Sunflower and safflower at feeders.
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.