Cardinal Facts

About the cardinal

Females look quite different: fawn to grayish-brown with reddish touches on the wings, crest and tail, plus a softer gray mask. Both sexes have coral-colored beaks, though young birds start out with grayish-black bills. Adults run 21 to 23.5 cm (8.3 to 9.3 in) long and weigh about 44.8 g on average. Seeds are the staple, with insects and fruit added in.

The range stretches from southeastern Canada across the eastern US and down through Mexico to Belize and Guatemala, in woodlands, gardens, shrublands and wetlands. It also lives in Bermuda and Hawaii, where it was introduced in 1929. Males sing to claim territory, and while courting, a male passes seeds to the female beak to beak. A pair lays three or four eggs per clutch, with up to four clutches a year.

Did you know?

• The northern cardinal is the state bird of seven states, including Illinois, Ohio and Virginia.
• Its name comes from Catholic cardinals, who wear red robes and caps.
• One wild cardinal lived at least 15 years and 9 months, and a captive bird reached 28.5.