The northern cardinal is a bright red songbird with a crest and a thick orange bill. It is one of North America’s most beloved backyard birds.
Interesting facts
- Males are bright red, while females are warm brown with red tints.
- Unlike many songbirds, female cardinals also sing, sometimes from the nest.
- Males feed females beak-to-beak during courtship.
- Cardinals sometimes attack their own reflections in windows during the breeding season.
- Bird feeders have helped cardinals spread north over the past century.
- They get their red colour from pigments in the food they eat.
Behaviour
Cardinals live in pairs that defend territories. They do not migrate and form small flocks in winter.
Breeding and young
Females build cup nests in dense shrubs and lay two to five eggs. Pairs often raise two or more broods a year.
Threats and conservation
The species is common and increasing.
Where to see it
- Backyard feeders across the eastern United States
- Parks and gardens in the Midwest and South
- Woodland edges and thickets
- Look for flashes of red in winter
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
