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kids / animal-facts
Animal facts |
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| © istockphoto.com/Tony Campbell
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| Fast Facts: Northern cardinal
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| Scientific name: |
Cardinalis cardinalis |
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| Average weight: |
42 to 48 g |
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| Average wingspan: |
25 to 31 cm |
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| Average lifespan: |
28.5 years (in the wild) |
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Did you know?
Male cardinals are feisty! If they see their reflection, they will fight for hours to scare off the “other bird” that they see as a threat. |
Physiology
These adult male songbirds have bright red plumage, while female adults tend to be more
brown or grey with hints of red on their chest, tail, crest and wing tips. Males have a black
mask that extends down to their chest. Females don’t usually have a mask, but some
have dark markings on their face. Each has a cone-shaped orange bill, a long tail and a feathery
crest.
Baby cardinals closely resemble females, except they’re born with a black beak. As they
mature, the beak transforms from black, to a cream colour before turning orange.
Habitats/Behaviours
Northern cardinals live in forests or in thick bushes surrounding residential areas — both
are prime places for these birds to gather food. Their strong beaks help them dig for insects in bushes and bite into tasty seeds, grains and fruits. The females build nests using grass,
twigs and bits of shrubs. They build their nests in the middle of thick bushes, which offer
them protection from predators such as cats, dogs, snakes, owls, chipmunks, squirrels and
brown-headed cow birds. When predators get too close to the nests, both male and female cardinals
give a shrill chirp to scare them away. Each year, female cardinals lay three eggs on average,
but can hatch up to five. For about two weeks, the female incubates the eggs while the male
brings her food and keeps predators at bay. These song birds communicate through calls and
songs. Males use a combination of singing and fluffing their feathers to attract a female’s
attention. Mating couples often sing a similar song of whistles together.
Range
Northern cardinals are found around southeastern Canada. Their range extends
down into central and eastern United States. Over the past 200 years, cardinals
have expanded their range and moved toward warmer areas and closer to humans — a dependable
source of food from bird feeders.
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