Bird Guide

Red-capped Cardinal vs Red-crested Cardinal

Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis)

Red-capped Cardinal

Paroaria gularis

Small24 gShrubland

The adult red-capped cardinal is 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long and weighs about 22 g (0.78 oz). The nominate subspecies has a crimson head, blackish lores and ocular region, and shiny black upperparts, apart from a white partial collar extending up the neck sides from the white underparts. The throat is black, extending to a point on the upper chest. The upper mandible is black, while the lower is pale flesh-coloured. The legs are dark grey (almost black) and the iris is brownish-orange.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Red-capped Cardinal
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Sucumbíos: 'La Selva Jungle Lodge', n bank Río Napo, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Manuel R Popp · CC BY 4.0
Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)

Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

Small38 gShrubland

The red-crested cardinal is a medium-sized species showing a red head, with a red bib and a short red crest that the bird raises when excited. Belly, breast, and undertail are white, with a gray back, wings, and tail. Wing coverts are gray, but the primaries, secondaries, and rectrices show a darker gray. Juveniles are similar to the adults, but they show a dull brownish orange head and bib. This species is very similar to a close relative, the red-cowled cardinal (P. dominicana). It is also similar to the yellow-billed cardinal (P.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Red-crested Cardinal
Recorded by Pedro Sanetti · Song · Cipolletti, General Roca Department, Río Negro Province, Argentina · CC0
Photo: Eugene Eric Kim · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red-capped Cardinal and Red-crested Cardinal.