Because of their bright red plumage and whistled songs, Cardinals
were once a popular bird to keep in a cage. Thousands were trapped in
the south during the winter months and sent to markets in the north and also
exported to Europe. However, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 put an
end to the Cardinal trade.
The Cardinal is also the official state bird of several states: North
Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and
Virginia.
Appearance
Distribution
Cardinals are found throughout the eastern United States from Main down
through Texas to the
U.S.-Mexico border
and south through
Mexico to the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
northern
Guatemala, and
northern
Belize. In 1700 they
were introduced into Bermuda and they have also been introduced into
Southern California and Hawaii.
The Northern Cardinal originally inhabited the Southeast, but in the last
100 years has expanded their range to the North and Northwest and can
also be found in southeastern Canada and Nova Scotia.
Habitat
Cardinals can be found in a wide variety of brushy and semi-open habitats
along the edges of woods, swamps and thickets.
They can be found in the suburbs in gardens and city parks and
almost anywhere there are dense bushes to build their nests in.
Food
Cardinals look for food mostly by hopping along the ground and in low
bushes, occasionally higher up in trees.
Cardinals feed mostly on insects, seeds, leaf buds, flowers, berries, and
fruit. They will
readily come to a feeder containing seed and especially like sunflower
seeds.
Song
Cardinals are a territorial song bird. The male sings in a loud, clear
whistle from a tree top or other high location to defend his territory. He
will chase off other intruding males and even attack his own reflection in
windows and mirrors.
The female mostly sings in the spring before the nesting season begins.
The pair sometimes sing together before nesting and the male will
often feed his mate.
Cardinals have a distinctive alarm call, a short metallic 'chip' sound.
In some cases they will also utter a series of chipping notes. It is often
easy to locate Cardinals by their alarm call, since they will make it
readily when humans walk nearby.
Nesting
The nests are lined with finer materials such as fine grass or hair.
The female usually lays 3-4 eggs, bluish white with brown markings.
The female will incubate the eggs for 12-13 days before hatching.
Both male and female Cardinals will feed the nestlings (mostly insects)
and in about 9-11 days they will be ready to leave the nest.
Cardinals will nest and raise 2-3 broods each year.
