Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
About robin-sized
Bigger than a sparrow, smaller than a jay.
About this bird
A year-round resident across the eastern United States. Males hold the same territory all year and sing from high, exposed perches. It is one of the few North American songbirds where the female sings too, often from the nest.
Behaviour
Forages low in shrubs and on the ground, usually in pairs. Males defend territory aggressively in spring, sometimes attacking their own reflection in windows.
When you will see them
Year-round resident · most vocal March to August
Easily confused with
Pyrrhuloxia
Greyer body, stubby yellow bill
Summer Tanager
No crest, no black mask
House Finch
Smaller, streaky belly, red on head only
Northern Cardinal questions
How do I tell a Northern Cardinal from a Summer Tanager?
Look at the head. Cardinals have a pointed crest and a black mask around a heavy orange bill; Summer Tanagers have a smooth, round head and no mask. Cardinals also stay low in hedges and at feeders, while tanagers feed higher in the canopy.
What does a Northern Cardinal sound like?
A loud, clear whistled series often heard as "birdy-birdy-birdy" or "cheer-cheer-cheer", carrying well across a garden. The alarm note is a sharp metallic chip. Females sing too, usually a softer version from cover near the nest.
Do Northern Cardinals migrate?
No. They hold the same territory all year, so the pair at your feeder in July is likely the pair there in January. That makes them one of the easiest species to get to know well.
How can I attract cardinals to my garden?
Black oil sunflower seed on a platform or hopper feeder is the reliable draw, since their heavy bill suits large seeds. Add dense shrubs or a hedge for cover and they will nest nearby. They feed most at dawn and dusk.
Where do Northern Cardinals live?
Across the eastern and central United States, south into Mexico and Guatemala, with a range edge reaching southern Canada. They favour woodland edges, gardens and thickets rather than deep forest, and the range has spread north over the last century.