Bird Guide

Northern Cardinal vs Vermilion Cardinal

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Small43 gShrubland

The northern cardinal is a mid-sized songbird with a body length of 21–23.5 cm (8.3–9.3 in) and a wingspan of 25–31 cm (9.8–12.2 in). The adult weighs from 33.6–65 g (1.19–2.29 oz), with an average 44.8 g (1.58 oz). The male averages slightly larger than the female. The oldest wild cardinal banded by researchers lived at least 15 years and 9 months, although 28.5 years was achieved by a captive bird. Annual survival rates for adult northern cardinals have been estimated at 60–65%. Voice: Both sexes sing clear, whistled song patterns, which are repeated several times, then varied. Some common phrases are described as "cheeeer-a-dote, cheeer-a-dote-dote-dote", "purdy, purdy, purdy...whoit, whoit, whoit, whoit", "what-cheer, what-cheer... wheet, wheet, wheet, wheet" and "cheer, cheer, cheer, what, what, what, what".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Northern Cardinal
Recorded by steve · Call, subsong · Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andrew Murray · CC BY 4.0
Vermilion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus)

Vermilion Cardinal

Cardinalis phoeniceus

Small39 gShrubland

The vermilion cardinal is 19 cm (7.5 in) long. Both sexes have long feathers on the crown that are typically erect. The male is almost entirely red, though it varies from very bright to somewhat dusky. It has a narrow black band around the lower part of its heavy gray bill. The female's crown is gray and the elongated feathers red. The rest of the head is brownish gray with white patches near the bill. The upperparts are grayish brown warming to brown on the rump and the underparts are buffy cinnamon. The juvenile is similar to the female but with more, and richer, brown. Voice: The vermilion cardinal's song is "a pleasant...'cheer o-weet-toweet toweet toweet'". Its call is a "chip".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: johnyochum · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Northern Cardinal and Vermilion Cardinal.