- Cardinalis cardinalis
Identification
All ages and sexes have crest and large, conical bill
Male
All red with black mask and chin. Wings have some gray. Red bill
Female
Brown overall with some red in wings, face, and tail. Red bill
Juvenile
Similar to female but bill is dark instead of red.
Length: 7.75 inches
Distribution
United States and Mexico.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Typical habitats are thickets and brushy areas, edges and clearings, riparian woodlands, parks, and residential areas.
Behaviour
Cardinals feed on a variety of foods including seeds, leaf buds, flowers, berries, and fruit. Up to one-third of its summer diet can be insects. Its winter diet is 90 percent vegetable matter, especially large seeds. Winter flocks can be very large, up to 60 or 70 individuals in areas of abundance. Cardinals are noted for their loud, clear whistled songs, often sung from a high treetop song post. Females will counter sing, duetting with males—usually after the males have established territories and before nesting begins. Local variations and accents have been noted in cardinal songs.
