Male cardinals are very distinctive, with a brilliant red body and a black face. (Runner Jenny/Flickr)
The northern cardinal is a small, red songbird that lives in gardens, backyards and wooded areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Appearance:
Tall, sharp crest of feathers on top of the head
Males are brilliant red with a black face
Females are brownish-gray with a reddish crest, wings and tail
Orange, cone-shaped beak
Long tail
Grows 7-9 inches
Habitat:
Found in parks, gardens, thickets, backyards and open, wooded areas
Range:
Lives throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Most cardinals live within a mile of where they were born
Feeding:
Eats seeds, insects and small fruits
Cone-shaped bill allows it to easily crack open seeds
Often eats grains from backyard bird feeders
Predators:
Hawks, squirrels, owls, snakes, blue jays, and domestic dogs and cats prey upon cardinals
Flight:
Males are easily identified in flight by their brilliant red color
Voice:
Known for its sweet, clear whistling song
Both males and females sing
Calls vary depending on geography
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Pairs, which are monogamous, breed in March and again in May-July. They begin by establishing a breeding territory and exchanging songs.
Females build a small, cup-shaped nest in a dense shrub, small tree or tangle of vines. They lay 3-4 eggs, usually two times per year.
While the female incubates the eggs for about two weeks, the male aggressively guards the nest. Cardinals defend their territory so well that they will attack their own reflection in windows, mirrors and other shiny surfaces.
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. After that time, they are able to leave the nest.
As young male cardinals develop their brilliant red color, the male parent usually expels them from the nest.
Other Facts:
The state bird of Virginia and West Virginia
Named after Catholic cardinals, who wear bright red robes
