northern cardinal northern cardinal north american bird genus known colloquially common cardinal found southern canada eastern united_states maine texas south mexico found woodlands gardens swamps northern cardinal mid sized body length distinctive crest head mask face black male gray female male vibrant red female dull reddish olive northern cardinal mainly feeds insects fruit male marking territory song courtship male feeds seed female clutch eggs laid produced year prized pet sale cage bird banned united_states taxonomy northern cardinal birds genus included family birds found northern cardinal species originally described 18th century work initially included genus contains placed genus given scientific means virginia cardinal scientific changed honor american scientific changed common changed northern cardinal avoid confusion seven species termed cardinals common scientific northern cardinal refers cardinals roman_catholic_church wear distinctive red robes caps term northern common refers range northernmost cardinal species subspecies subspecies nelson lesson banks nelson nelson nelson description northern cardinal mid sized body length wingspan adult weighs average male averages slightly larger female adult male brilliant crimson red color black face mask eyes extending upper chest color darker wings female grayish brown tones slight reddish wings crest tail feathers face mask female gray black defined male sexes possess prominent raised bright coral colored cone shaped strong young birds male female coloring similar adult female fall grow adult feathers brown red brown brick colored crest forehead wings tail legs feet dark pink brown iris eye brown plumage color males produced diet coloration produced red yellow northern cardinal males possess ability create plumage color different pigment fed yellow males pale red color yellow rare yellow cardinals feathers black face mask moderate yellow color winter months male female feathers order trap warm air body keeping cold air reaching body feathers small base flight feather legs feet birds thin lack feathers vulnerable rapid heat loss turns leg time body warm stand distribution habitat northern cardinals numerous eastern united_states maine texas canada provinces ontario quebec new_brunswick nova_scotia range extends west mexico border south mexico northern guatemala northern belize population found pacific slope mexico note population shown range map species introduced bermuda introduced hawaii southern california natural habitat woodlands gardens swamps ecology song northern cardinal territorial song bird male sings loud clear whistle tree high location defend territory chase males entering territory mistake image reflective surfaces invading male fight reflection northern cardinal learns songs result songs vary pairs travel sexes sing clear song patterns repeated times varied common phrases described cheer cheer cheer cheer cheer northern cardinal distinctive alarm short metallic chip sound given predators approach nest order warning female cases utter series notes frequency volume notes increases threat greater noise cardinal pair locate especially dusk hours visibility predators northern cardinals preyed wide variety predators native north_america including hawks including long eastern predators chicks eggs include milk snakes blue eastern gray fox eastern domestic cats diet diet northern cardinal consists mainly seeds grains fruits ground finds food ground trees consume insects including beetles feeds young exclusively insects common items include corn seeds bark trees drinks maple holes example summer months shows preference seeds easily selective food scarce winter reproduction pairs mate life stay year round pairs sing nesting courtship participate bonding behavior male collects food brings female feeding mating successful mate feeding continue period males bring nest material female building twigs turns nest bend twigs body push cup shape feet cup layers coarse twigs bits trash covered mat lined bark finally grasses stems pine nest typically takes days build finished product tall inner diameter cardinals usually use nests female builds cup nest concealed spot dense low tree ground nest thin twigs bark strips grasses lined grasses plant fibers eggs laid days following completion nest eggs white green blue brown marked gray brown thicker larger end shell smooth slightly glossy eggs laid clutch eggs measure approximately size female generally eggs rarely male brief periods time takes days young days hatching raised year male cares feeds brood female clutch eggs oldest wild cardinal banded researchers lived years months years achieved captive bird annual survival rates adult northern cardinals estimated birds high mortality juveniles means average lifespan year relationship humans northern cardinal found residential areas range backyard attract containing seeds particularly seeds seeds controversy surrounds bird feeding increase backyard feeding humans generally beneficial species listed species concern estimated global range km2 global population million populations appear remain stable threatened reach threshold inclusion threatened species requires decline years generations prized pet bright color distinctive song united_states species receives special legal protection migratory bird treaty act banned sale cage birds protected canada illegal kill possess northern cardinals violation law fine imprisonment months united_states northern cardinal mascot numerous athletic teams teams portray bird yellow legs professional sports mascot major_league_baseball national_league national_football_league college athletics mascot schools including state bird northern cardinal state bird seven states species illinois indiana kentucky north_carolina ohio virginia west_virginia candidate state bird delaware lost
Northern cardinal