Description: The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. They’re a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness, and style: a shade of red you can’t take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and warm red accents.
Regions: The Northern Cardinal is found in most parts of the US east of the Rocky Mountains. They may also be found in parts of California, Arizona and New Mexico. Cardinals do not migrate.
Behavior: Cardinals nest in dense foliage. They eat mainly seeds and fruit but will supplement with insects if necessary. Cardinals can be seen hopping on low branches and foraging on the ground.
Main problems: The Northern Cardinal can be aggressive in guarding its territory against a possible rival. They are particularly prone to attacking their reflections in glass.
Highly adaptable, cardinals inhabit woods, thickets, parks and back yards. The cardinal is also at ease in urban environments.
Cardinals seem to particularly like sunflower seeds. Keep that in mind as you stock your bird feeders.
The cardinal is so well-loved it has been named the official bird in seven US states.
Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards.