The Northern Cardinal Habits

Bring Cardinals Up Close
Mirrored Cardinal Feeder

The Northern Cardinal, a frequent visitor to bird feeders is one of the most admired backyard bird species. A bird so admired that seven states have named it as their states bird.

Cardinal Description

The male is a bright red bird with a pointed crest on the top of his head. The female is mostly buff brown in color with some red on her head, wings, and tail. Both have small black masks on their faces that surround the bill and eyes. About 8 1/2 inches long.

Northern Cardinal Male
Watch Video Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals have been steadily expanding their range north while also inching their way westward. This range expansion offers more bird watchers a chance to see and observe this bird.

Northern Cardinals are permanent residents throughout their range.

While a somewhat secretive bird while nesting, you may still be able to watch from a distance. It has been my experience that if she feels threatened, the female bird will abandon her nest building and find a new location. Always watch from a distance.

Mating Habits

At Your bird feeder, you may see what is referred to as mate feeding. What you'll see is the male pick up a seed, hop over to the female, and the two momentarily touch beaks as she takes the food. Mate-feeding continues through the egg-laying and incubation phases of breeding.

Typically, Northern Cardinal pairs remain together the whole year. In winter, the bond may be relaxed. Pairs often stay mated until one dies at which time the surviving mate will look for another partner. Mating for life is often used in field guides to describe this behavior.

Nesting Habits - Where They Live

The female builds the nest while the male keeps a close eye on her and the surrounding territory for predators and other males. The female will be the only one incubating the eggs.

The males duty during this time is to feed her on the nest and protect their territory from intruders.

Once the young hatch, both will feed them. Two broods each season are attempted.

Prevent Window Collisions Keep Birds From Windows

The nest is made up of twigs, bark strips, vines leaves, rootlets, paper, and lined with vines, grass and hair.

You can find the nest placed in dense shrubbery or among branches of small trees. Generally 1-15 feet above ground.

Laying 2-5 eggs that are buff-white with dark marks. The female incubates the eggs for 12- 13 days and the young leave the nest in 9-11 days after hatching.

Feeding Habits - What Cardinals Eat

The adults food consist of insects, spiders, wild fruits, berries, and weed seeds. Preferring to perch while feeding at bird feeders, the ideal cardinal bird feeder is the hopper style filled with black-oil sunflower seed.

Northern Cardinals tend to be territorial in their feeding habits. The bird watcher may wish to place their bird feeders in both the front and back yards, using the house as a visual barrier between territories. In winter this territorial behavior around bird feeders appears to be more relaxed. Northern Cardinals are permanent residents throughtout their range.