Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
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A North American Songbird. |
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| State bird of: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. History: Once known exclusively as a southern (United States) bird, the cardinal was trapped and exported to Europe as a cage bird, the "Virginia Nightingale", and hunted and killed to provide feather trimmings for ladies' hats. | |
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The male has true red plumage, with a black bib and narrow area surrounding its bill also a grosbeak-like bill. Mature size 8 to 9 inches. |
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The female cardinal feather colors are olive-gray or brownish, with a touch of red on the crest, wings and tail and grosbeak-like bill. Mature size 8 to 9 inches. |
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A young cardinal. Note cardinals are not born with a orange grosbeak-like bill. |
| A member of the Finch family the cardinal is
one of the rare songbirds that sing throughout the year. The male sings with a load,
clear, rich whistle: "what-cheat, cheer, cheer! Purty-purty-purty-purity," and
"sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet. A
year round resident from southeastern South Dakota, southern Ontario and Nova Scotia south
to the Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida; southern New Mexico and central Texas south to
Mexico etc.
The bird's diet consists of insects and vegetable matter. The bird feeds on the ground or moving through the trees and shrubs, eating many of the worst agricultural pests. Also feeding stations that offer sunflower seeds and or bakery ( white bread) products. Plants for food and shelter: Red Mulberry tree , Holly tree, etc.. |
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