The term “red bird” is a common, descriptive phrase used to identify any avian species displaying prominent red plumage. While this description captures the striking color of several North American birds, it does not refer to a single, specific animal. The word “Cardinal,” however, is a precise scientific designation referring to an identifiable species within the biological classification system. Understanding the difference between this general color-based nickname and a formal species name is the first step toward accurately identifying the brilliant red birds seen in backyards and woodlands.
The Northern Cardinal: A Specific Species
The bird most frequently associated with the “red bird” moniker is the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). This species belongs to the genus Cardinalis and the family Cardinalidae, which also includes various grosbeaks and buntings. The Northern Cardinal is a non-migratory bird, remaining in its range throughout the year across much of the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, a defining trait. The adult male is covered almost entirely in a brilliant, vivid crimson color. Conversely, the adult female displays reddish-brown or olive-brown plumage, accented with reddish tinges on her crest, wings, and tail feathers. This duller coloration is thought to provide camouflage during nesting, as the female performs the bulk of the incubation.
Key Features for Identifying the Cardinal
Beyond its bright coloration, the Northern Cardinal possesses several unique physical markers that reliably distinguish it from other red-colored birds. The most noticeable feature is the prominent, pointed crest of feathers atop its head, which can be raised or lowered. Both males and females possess this crest, but the male’s appears more striking due to the contrast of his bright red plumage. The bird also has a very thick, cone-shaped bill that is a red-orange color in adults.
This powerful bill is specialized for crushing seeds, making the Northern Cardinal a frequent visitor to backyard feeders stocked with sunflower seeds. The male’s face is characterized by a distinct black mask of feathers surrounding the base of the bill, contrasting sharply with his bright red head. This black mask is a reliable field mark for the male, while the female has a grayish or pale brown mask in the same area.
Auditory Identification
Identification is also possible through auditory clues, as the Northern Cardinal has a recognizable song and call. Its song is a series of clear, loud whistles, often transcribed as “cheer, cheer, cheer,” and is sung by both the male and the female. When alarmed, the bird uses a sharp, metallic “chip” note.
Habitat and Nesting
Cardinals prefer to forage on or near the ground, often in dense shrubs. They typically build their nests in thickets or vine tangles low to the ground, usually between one and fifteen feet high.
Other Common Red Birds Mistaken for Cardinals
The confusion between a “red bird” and a Cardinal arises because several other North American species also display intense red coloring. Two of the most common are the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) and the Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), both migratory species appearing in northern regions only during the breeding season.
Scarlet and Summer Tanagers
The male Scarlet Tanager is a brilliant red, but has coal-black wings and a black tail. It lacks the Cardinal’s crest and has a thicker, blunt-tipped bill that is pale instead of red-orange. The male Summer Tanager is entirely red, with no black markings on the wings or face. It also lacks a crest and possesses a pale, bone-colored bill that is longer and straighter than the Cardinal’s conical bill. Both Tanagers are primarily insectivorous and often remain high in the forest canopy, differing from the Cardinal’s preference for lower, brushy areas.
House Finch
Another bird sometimes mistaken for the Cardinal is the male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). The male House Finch is noticeably smaller and displays a rosy red color concentrated on the face and upper chest. The rest of its body is streaky brown, which distinguishes it from the uniformly red male Cardinal. The House Finch also lacks the Cardinal’s crest and black face mask, and its conical bill is smaller and duller in color.