The bright red bird known widely as “the cardinal” is a familiar sight across much of North America, often bringing a splash of color to winter landscapes. A closer look reveals a diverse group of birds, some closely related and others only sharing a superficial resemblance.
The Familiar Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a medium-sized songbird, measuring about 21-23 cm (8.3-9.1 inches) in length, recognized by its prominent crest and short, thick, cone-shaped bill. Male Northern Cardinals are celebrated for their vibrant red plumage, which covers their entire body, contrasted by a black mask around their reddish bill. Females exhibit a more subdued reddish-olive color, with reddish tints on their wings, tail, and crest, along with a gray to black facial mask that is less defined than the male’s.
These birds inhabit a wide range of environments, including woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands, and are common in suburban areas. Their geographic distribution extends from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States, reaching as far west as parts of Arizona and New Mexico, and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Northern Cardinals are non-migratory, remaining in their territories year-round, and are often seen at bird feeders, especially during winter.
A Family of Cardinals
The Northern Cardinal belongs to the Cardinalidae family, a group of New World passerine birds characterized by their stout, seed-crushing bills. This family includes cardinals, grosbeaks, and buntings. Within the Cardinalis genus, two other species share a close lineage and similar physical traits, including a conspicuous crest and a strong, conical bill.
One such species is the Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), often called the Desert Cardinal. This medium-sized songbird, found in the American Southwest and northern Mexico, has a predominantly brownish-gray body with red highlights on its crest, face, wings, and tail. Its distinctive short, stout, and yellow parrot-like bill sets it apart from the Northern Cardinal, though their songs can be quite similar. The Vermilion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus) is another member of this genus, found primarily in Colombia and Venezuela. Male Vermilion Cardinals are almost entirely bright rose-red and possess a long, spiky crest.
Beyond the Cardinalis genus, the Cardinalidae family encompasses other species sometimes referred to as cardinals or grosbeaks, such as the Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus). This bird, also known as the Mexican Yellow Grosbeak, is a medium-sized seed-eating bird with bold contrasts of yellow, white, and black or gray plumage in males. It resides on the Pacific slope of Mexico and into Guatemala, with occasional vagrants reaching the southwestern United States. These birds share the family’s characteristic heavy, conical bills.
Birds Beyond the Cardinal Family
While the Cardinalidae family contains the “true” cardinals, some birds are commonly called “cardinals” due to their striking red coloration but belong to different taxonomic families. Their scientific classification places them in distinct evolutionary lineages.
A prominent example is the Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata), a member of the tanager family, Thraupidae. This bird features a bright red head and crest, white underparts, and a gray back, wings, and tail. Native to southern South America, it has also been introduced to places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Identifying Cardinal Species
Distinguishing between various cardinal species and cardinal-like birds involves observing several key characteristics. Plumage is a primary identifier; for instance, male Northern Cardinals are uniformly brilliant red with a black face mask, while male Pyrrhuloxias are grayish with red accents and a distinctive yellow bill. Female Northern Cardinals are reddish-olive, whereas female Pyrrhuloxias are paler gray-brown with red highlights. The Vermilion Cardinal male is almost entirely red and has a narrow black band around its heavy gray bill.
Beak shape offers another important clue; the Northern Cardinal has a thick, orange-red, cone-shaped bill, while the Pyrrhuloxia’s bill is stout, curved, and yellow. Vocalizations can also aid identification, as the songs of the Northern Cardinal and Pyrrhuloxia, while similar, have subtle differences in loudness or metallic quality. Geographic location also helps narrow down possibilities, as different cardinal species occupy distinct ranges, though some overlap occurs.