Northern cardinal

Taxonomy and Naming

The northern cardinal was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It was originally categorized as Loxia cardinalis, a genus that now contains only crossbills. In 1838, it was placed in the genus Cardinalis as Cardinalis virginianus. By 1918, the scientific name was sometimes replaced with Richmondena cardinalis. The current scientific name, Cardinalis cardinalis, was established in 1983, and the common name was formally changed to 'northern cardinal' to avoid confusion with other species also termed cardinals. The bird is named after the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, whose red robes and caps resemble the male's plumage. The term 'northern' in the common name refers to its range, as it is the northernmost cardinal species known.

Physical Description and Plumage

The northern cardinal is a robust songbird with a prominent crest on its head and a strong, cone-shaped beak. A clear example of sexual dimorphism, the adult male is a brilliant crimson red with a sharp black mask covering its eyes and extending to the upper chest. The colour becomes duller and darker on the back and wings. The adult female is fawn-coloured, with mostly grayish-brown tones and a slight reddish tint on the wings, crest, and tail feathers. Her face mask is gray to black and is less defined than that of the male. Both sexes possess the bright coral-coloured beaks. The plumage colour of the males is produced from carotenoid pigments in the diet. Males metabolize these pigments to create the red plumage, which differs from the ingested pigment colour. When fed only yellow pigments, males become a pale red colour. A few rare 'yellow morph' cardinals lack the enzyme to convert carotenoids into red pigments and have yellow beaks and feathers, except for the black face mask. Young birds, both male and female, show colouring similar to the adult female until the fall when they molt and grow adult feathers. They are brown above and red-brown below, with brick-coloured crest, forehead, wings, and tail. The legs and feet are a dark pink-brown.

Distribution and Habitat in Canada

In Canada, the northern cardinal is found in the southern portions of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, all the way east to Cape Breton Island. Its continental range extends across the eastern United States from Maine to Minnesota to Texas and south through Mexico to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, northern Guatemala, and northern Belize. An allopatric population exists on the Pacific slope of Mexico from Jalisco to Oaxaca. The species was introduced to Bermuda in 1700 and to the major islands of Hawaii, with the Hawaiian introduction noted in 1929. Its natural habitat is in woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands. The species avoids extensive woodlands and is most abundant in areas where dense cover is interspersed with open areas, such as woodland edges, brushy fields, wooded wetlands, parks, and suburban areas. Its range has expanded northward over the past century. In 1929, naturalist Forbush described the species as rare in New England, but by 1955 Griscom reported it was 'pushing northward.' Data from Audubon shows the population grew rapidly in Massachusetts after 1960. This expansion is partly attributed to an increase in backyard feeding by humans. The estimated global range is 5,800,000 square kilometres with a global population of some 100 million. In Canada, the conservation goal for the species, as noted by NatureCounts, is to remain at or above its recent population level based on Breeding Bird Survey data.

Behaviour and Vocalizations

The northern cardinal is a territorial, non-migratory songbird. The male sings in a loud, clear whistle from the top of a tree or another high location to defend his territory and will chase off other males. He may mistake his reflection on various surfaces as an invading male and will fight it relentlessly. Mated pairs often travel together and may stay paired for successive years, though some pairs separate between seasons or choose a new mate when one dies. DNA studies of two populations found that 9 to 35 percent of nestlings were not fathered by the female's social mate. During winter, cardinals employ several thermoregulation strategies. They fluff up their down feathers, which are small and hairlike at the base of each flight feather, to retain warm air next to the body. They shiver and tense their muscles, especially breast muscles, to generate heat and have the ability to drop their body temperature by 1.7 to 3.3 degrees Celsius to survive cold temperatures. Both sexes sing clear, whistled song patterns, which are repeated several times and then varied. Common phrases are described as 'cheeeer-a-dote, cheeer-a-dote-dote-dote,' 'purdy, purdy, purdy...whoit, whoit, whoit, whoit,' and 'what-cheer, what-cheer... wheet, wheet, wheet, wheet.' The songs are sexually dimorphic, though not easily distinguishable by the human ear, a difference suggested to be due to hormonal levels. The northern cardinal learns its songs, resulting in regional variations. Songs of neighbouring cardinals usually overlap more in syllables than those of birds farther apart. The species also has a distinctive alarm call, a short metallic chip sound, often given when predators approach the nest.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the adult northern cardinal consists mainly, up to 90 percent, of weed seeds, grains, and fruits. It is a ground feeder, finding food while hopping on the ground through trees or shrubbery. Common items include corn, oats, sunflower seeds, and the blossoms and bark of elm trees. It will also consume snails and insects such as beetles, cicadas, and grasshoppers, and drinks maple sap from holes made by sapsuckers. The young are fed almost entirely on insects, which adults crush with their beaks before feeding to the nestlings. Bird feeders attract cardinals by using seeds, particularly sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. This reliable food source from human provisioning is considered a key factor in the species' northward range expansion and increased presence in suburban areas.

Reproduction and Nesting

Pairs may mate for successive years, but some also separate between seasons or choose a new mate when one dies. During courtship, the male may feed the female seed beak-to-beak. The female builds a cup nest in a well-concealed spot in a dense shrub or low tree, typically one to three metres off the ground. The nest is made of thin twigs, bark strips, and grasses, lined with grasses or other plant fibers. The male sometimes brings nest material to the female, who does most of the building. She crushes twigs with her beak until pliable, then turns in the nest to bend them around her body and push them into a cup shape with her feet. The finished nest is 5.1 to 7.6 centimetres tall and about 10.1 centimetres across, with an inner diameter of roughly 7.6 centimetres. Construction takes three to nine days. Cardinals do not usually use their nests more than once. The clutch typically contains three to four eggs, though it can range from one to five. The eggs are white with a tint of green, blue, or brown and are marked with lavender, gray, or brown blotches thicker around the larger end. Eggs measure approximately 26 by 19 millimetres. The female generally incubates the eggs for 12 or 13 days, with the male rarely incubating for brief periods. Young fledge 10 or 11 days after hatching. Two to four broods are raised each year, with the male caring for and feeding each brood as the female incubates the next clutch.

Development of Young and Nest Ecology

Newly hatched cardinals are altricial, weighing an average of 3 to 3.5 grams, and are naked, blind, and immobile. Feathers begin to appear when they are four to five days old. Their diet is mainly composed of insects provided by the parents. They gain weight at a rate of about two to three grams per day, with growth slower until day two, faster from day two to day seven or eight, and then slower again before fledging. Nestlings vocalize to attract parents for feeding, with very young nestlings begging if the nest is moved but older ones responding more specifically to parental presence or songs. Nestlings defecate in the form of a fecal sac, a tough mucous membrane enclosing the waste. These are produced every three or four feedings. The female sometimes stimulates defecation by poking the nestling near the cloaca. Fecal sacs from the first four to five days are eaten by the parents, and later sacs are carried away from the nest and dropped, which helps maintain nest hygiene and reduce scent cues for predators.

Ecology, Predators, and Disease

Northern cardinals are preyed upon by a wide variety of native North American predators. Avian predators include falcons, all Accipiter hawks, shrikes, bald eagles, golden eagles, and several owls such as long-eared owls and eastern screech owls. Predators of chicks and eggs include milk snakes, coluber constrictors, blue jays, crows, eastern gray squirrels, fox squirrels, eastern chipmunks, and domestic cats. Brown-headed cowbirds are observed to parasitize cardinal nests. Despite these pressures, populations appear stable. A notable 2016 study conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, on West Nile virus transmission found that unlike other species, northern cardinals biologically suppress the disease upon infection. This means that when a cardinal is infected with the virus, it does not reach a high enough level in its bloodstream to be efficiently transmitted to mosquitoes, potentially reducing the spread of the virus in areas where cardinals are common.

Relationship with Humans and Cultural Significance

In Cherokee mythology, the cardinal is associated with the sun and is a symbol of good luck. The bird is found in residential areas throughout its range and its presence is encouraged by bird feeders. Cardinals were once prized as pets due to their bright colour and distinctive song. In the United States, this practice was ended by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which banned their sale as cage birds and made it illegal to take, kill, or possess them, with penalties of up to a 15,000 dollar fine and six months imprisonment. This protection extends to Canada under the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds. The northern cardinal is the state bird of seven U.S. states, more than any other species, specifically Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. It was a candidate for state bird of Delaware but lost to the Delaware Blue Hen. The Amtrak passenger train between Chicago and Washington DC is named the Cardinal because the bird is the state bird of the six states along its route. The bird is a common mascot for athletic teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball and the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, as well as numerous colleges and universities. Most team depictions portray the bird with a yellow beak and legs, which differs from its actual coral-red beak.

Questions about Northern cardinal

Where can you find northern cardinals in Canada?

Northern cardinals are found in southeastern Canada, specifically in the southern portions of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, all the way east to Cape Breton Island. Their habitat includes woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands. They are often found in suburban areas and parks where dense cover is mixed with open spaces. Their range has expanded northward over time, partly due to factors like backyard bird feeding.

What is the difference between a male and female northern cardinal?

Male and female northern cardinals exhibit striking sexual dimorphism. The adult male is a brilliant, uniform crimson red with a sharp black mask over its eyes and upper chest. The adult female is primarily fawn or grayish-brown with reddish tints on her wings, crest, and tail, and has a more muted gray mask. Both sexes share the distinctive crest and bright coral-red beak. Juvenile birds of both sexes resemble the adult female until they molt and grow their adult feathers in the fall.

What do northern cardinals eat?

Adult northern cardinals are primarily granivorous, meaning their diet consists mostly of seeds, grains, and fruits, which can constitute up to 90 percent of their intake. They commonly eat weed seeds, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, corn, and oats. They also consume insects, snails, and will drink sap from sapsucker holes. Nestlings are fed almost entirely on insects, which provide the necessary protein for rapid growth. Cardinals are frequent visitors to bird feeders, where they readily eat offered seeds.

Do northern cardinals migrate for the winter?

No, northern cardinals are non-migratory birds. They remain in their territories year-round, which is why they are such a familiar sight at winter bird feeders in Canada. To survive cold temperatures, they employ strategies like fluffing their down feathers for insulation, shivering to generate heat, and even temporarily lowering their body temperature by several degrees. Their non-migratory nature and bright winter colour make them a noticeable presence during the colder months.

How long do northern cardinals live?

The oldest known wild northern cardinal banded by researchers lived at least 15 years and 9 months. A captive bird was recorded living 28.5 years. Annual survival rates for adult cardinals are estimated between 60 and 65 percent. Their lifespan is influenced by factors such as predation, disease, food availability, and harsh winter conditions. The average weight of an adult is about 44.8 grams.

Are northern cardinals protected in Canada?

Yes, northern cardinals are protected in Canada under the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds. In the United States, they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which makes it illegal to take, kill, or possess them, with significant penalties for violations. These protections helped end the historical practice of keeping them as cage birds. Their population in Canada is monitored, with conservation goals aimed at maintaining stable or increasing numbers based on Breeding Bird Survey data.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.