Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

The northern cardinal is a small songbird with:

• A long tail.
• A tall, sharp crest of feathers on the head.
• A red, cone-shaped beak.

Male cardinals are brilliant red with a black face. Females are brownish-gray with a red crest and some red on the wings and tail.

Cardinals grow to about 7 to 9 inches.

Where does the northern cardinal live?

Cardinals can be found in thickets, gardens, towns and woodland edges throughout the Bay watershed.

What does the northern cardinal eat?

Cardinals feed on seeds, insects and small fruits. Their bill is designed to easily crack open seeds.

What does the northern cardinal sound like?

Cardinals are known for their sweet, clear songs. Both sexes make a whistling call.

Where does the northern cardinal nest and breed?

Cardinal pairs, which are monogamous, begin mating by establishing their territory and exchanging songs.

• The female cardinal creates a cup-shaped nest, into which she lays between two and four broods of three to four eggs per season.
• While the female incubates her eggs for about 12 to 13 days, the male assists her by guarding the nest and feeding any preceding broods.
• Newly hatched cardinal young are extremely immature and vulnerable: they cannot move, their eyes are closed and they have no down. They require intense care from both parents for about 10 days after hatching, when they are able to leave the nest.
• Juvenile cardinals resemble the adult female, but as the young males develop their brilliant red color the male parent usually sends them from the nest.

Other facts about the northern cardinal:

• The northern cardinal is the state bird of Virginia and West Virginia.