Cardinal Bird - A Magnificent Bird from North America

The Cardinal is a wild bird native to North America, possessing bright red plumage, a shy temperament, difficult to tame, and a unique, melodious song.

The Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is one of the most beautiful and striking wild birds in North America. Its bright red plumage, like the robes of Catholic priests, and its melodious, sweet song have made this bird a favorite of many people.

However, cardinals are protected under strict laws in the United States and Canada, so hunting, keeping, and trading them without a license is completely illegal.

If you want to learn more about the appearance, habits and why Cardinals are not popular in the bird world, follow the article below by nicebirds !

Cardinal bird information :

Origin and development of the Cardinal bird

Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is a native bird of North America, distributed from the eastern United States to Central America and eastern Mexico. Its specific habitat is as follows:

• Eastern United States : From Maine to Florida and Texas.
• Canada : Ontario and Quebec provinces.
• Mexico and Central America: Northern and central Mexico.

This bird species usually lives in areas with lots of bushes, dense vegetation, parks or leafy suburbs.

The name “Cardinal” in English is inspired by the bright red robes of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church (Candinals), referring to the bright red feathers of the male Cardinal bird.

Today, the Cardinal has become a widely distributed bird due to its adaptability. It is also considered a symbol of Eastern and Central America.

Cardinal bird appearance

A male and female Cardinal bird pair are perched on a tree branch.

The Cardinal bird has a striking appearance with bright red plumage in males or gentle reddish brown in females and a characteristic crest. To learn more about the appearance of this bird, please refer to the following content.

General size & shape :

• Length : About 21 - 23 cm
• Average weight : 42 - 48g
• Body : Well proportioned, slightly round, long, straight tail.
• Short , thick, triangular, strong beak.
• Crest : Head has an erect crest.
• Eyes : Round, black.
• Legs and nails : Legs are gray or dark brown, with sharp nails.

Cardinal male bird feather color :

• The whole body is bright red, especially the head, chest, wings and tail.
• The face has a tuft of black feathers surrounding the beak and eyes.
• The beak is orange-red.
• Has a crest standing upright on top of the head, looks very majestic.

Feather color of female Cardinal bird :

• The feathers are light brown or grayish brown with a red tinge on the wings, tail and belly.
• The face also has a black patch of feathers but it is not as clear as the male bird.
• The beak is lighter orange than the male.
• The head also has a crest but it is not prominent.

Cardinal bird behavior

Because it is a wild bird, the Cardinal has many interesting habits and behaviors, completely different from ordinary pet birds. Let's find out here!

Highly territorial

Although Cardinals are quite small in appearance, they are very territorial, especially males. They always tend to find ways to chase other males out of their own “territory”. They can even attack their own reflection in a mirror or glass because they think it is a formidable “opponent”.

Cardinals are not migratory birds, but rather highly territorial. They usually stay in one area all year round without moving to another location.

Lives alone or in pairs

Cardinals are usually solitary or in pairs during the breeding season. They do not normally gather in large flocks like sparrows or starlings.

Once paired, Cardinals are very faithful and can bond with their partner for life. They both forage, nest, and raise their young together.

Shy with people

Although the Cardinal is very aggressive towards its own kind, it is very shy and timid towards humans. It rarely swoops down near humans and always keeps a safe distance. It usually hides in the bushes and only comes out to feed when it is safe and then immediately returns to its shelter.

Both male and female birds sing very well.

Unlike most other birds, both male and female Cardinals sing very well. Their songs are melodious, clear and have many different rhythms. Especially during the incubation period, the female bird also uses her song to communicate with the male bird in a very affectionate way.

Like to live in the bush

Cardinals prefer to live in dense habitats such as gardens, open forests, bushes or parks. They do not like open, treeless or urbanized areas.

Eating habits

Cardinals love to eat seeds, berries or small insects, especially sunflower seeds. While foraging, they are also very "domineering" when they have the habit of using their feet to pull down the treetops to pick fruit or eat seeds on them.

Reproductive behavior

Here are some interesting things about the reproduction process of Cardinal birds, let's learn more!

• Cardinals typically breed from early spring to mid-summer.
• The female bird makes her nest from dry twigs, grass or feathers.
• Their nests are usually located in low bushes or even in flower pots.
• Each clutch of female birds contains 2-5 eggs, which she then incubates for about 11-13 days, while the male bird takes on the task of finding food and protecting the nest.
• In particular, after the eggs hatch, both the father and mother take turns caring for and protecting the chicks until they can fly and find food on their own (usually about 10 - 12 days after hatching).

Why are Cardinals not popular pets?

Two male and female cardinals are perched next to each other.

Currently, the Cardinal is not a popular pet bird to keep under normal conditions because not only is keeping this bird subject to many legal restrictions, especially in the US, but the breeding and domestication process also faces many difficulties. Specifically as follows:

Strictly protected by law

In the United States and Canada, cardinals are native wildlife and are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - which prohibits the illegal capture, breeding, and trade of native wild birds.

Therefore, keeping this bird in captivity in the US without a license is illegal, and can result in a fine of up to $15,000 and 6 months in prison.

Difficult to propagate commercially

Cardinals are a species of bird that are rarely bred artificially for ornamental purposes because breeding them requires high technical skills, large spaces, and conditions similar to their natural habitat.

Very difficult to tame

Cardinals are shy and cautious by nature, not easily getting used to humans, so domesticating and keeping them in captivity in the natural environment is extremely difficult and risky, so domesticating this bird species is not very feasible.

Cardinal bird image

Right here, we invite you to admire the collection of photos of Cardinal birds to fully appreciate the brilliant beauty of this bird and understand why they are considered the "red gems" of nature!

A cardinal stands out against the white snow.

The image of a cardinal spreading its wings looks very beautiful.

A male and female Cardinal couple are perched side by side.

A male cardinal with bright red feathers is perched on a tree branch.

Image of the Cardinal bird looking sideways.

Rare moment when Cardinal bird confronts camera directly.

Through the article that nicebirds.net shared above, it can be seen that the Cardinal bird not only possesses a prominent appearance but also has a melodious song and many typical habits. Protecting and preserving the natural habitat is the best way to protect this beautiful bird species.

Don't forget to read other articles in our Blog section to learn more about other beautiful, unique and interesting bird species!