Northern Cardinal

Overview

The Northern Cardinal is one of the most recognizable feeder birds in eastern and central North America, named for the male's crimson plumage reminiscent of a Catholic cardinal's robes. It is a non-migratory, year-round resident, so its feathers can turn up in gardens and woodlots in any season.

Because males and females look so different, cardinal feathers vary widely in color depending on which bird - and which part of the body - they came from. The prominent pointed crest is a useful clue even on a single loose feather.

Recognizing the Feathers

• Male body feathers: solid, saturated red from base to tip, with little to no barring
• Female body feathers: warm grayish-brown, often with a soft reddish or orange wash, especially on wing and tail feathers
• Crest feathers: long, narrow, and pointed, found on both sexes
• Flight & tail feathers: longer and stiffer, reddish in males and brownish-red in females, without stripes or spots

Cardinal feathers lack barring, unlike similarly sized woodpecker or flicker feathers, and the color is more uniform than the streaked look of finches.

Plumage

Adult males are entirely red except for a black mask around the bill and throat; females are buffy tan-brown with red highlights on the crest, wings and tail. Juveniles resemble females but have a dark bill instead of the adult's bright orange-red bill. There is no seasonal plumage change; a single complete molt occurs in late summer to early fall after breeding.

Habitat & Range

Cardinals inhabit forest edges, hedgerows, thickets and residential landscaping across the eastern and central United States, extending into southeastern Canada, Mexico and parts of Central America. They are permanent residents and do not migrate, sticking to a home range year-round.

Behavior & Field Notes

Cardinals are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, favoring sunflower seeds, and forage low in shrubs and on the ground for seeds and insects. Pairs build cup nests hidden in dense shrubbery, and the male's clear, whistled song is often heard year-round since both sexes sing. Because cardinals are resident and molt gradually, dropped feathers are commonly found near feeders and roosting shrubs throughout the year.