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ShrublandCup nestSmall · 43 g
What the Northern Cardinal sounds like
ID tip
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".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Northern Cardinal
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Northern Cardinal
The map shades 7 countries with regular records, and 4 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Belgium, Honduras, Norway.
About the Northern Cardinal
The northern cardinal, also commonly known as the common cardinal, red cardinal, or simply cardinal, is a bird in the genus Cardinalis. It can be found in southeastern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Minnesota to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, southern California and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. It is also an introduced species in a few locations such as Bermuda and all major islands of Hawaii since its introduction in 1929. Its habitat includes woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands. It is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
PyrrhuloxiaCardinalis sinuatusThe desert cardinal is a medium-sized song bird; the length for both sexes is about 8.3 in (21 cm), while the typical weight is 0.8–1.5 oz (24–43 g).
Vermilion CardinalCardinalis phoeniceusThe vermilion cardinal is 19 cm (7.5 in) long.
Side by side: Northern Cardinal vs Pyrrhuloxia · Northern Cardinal vs Vermilion Cardinal
Watch the Northern Cardinal on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Learn the Northern Cardinal in the BeakBrain App
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