The Northern Cardinal is a familiar bird across North America, easily recognized by its striking crest and vibrant red plumage. These non-migratory songbirds are common in woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands, ranging from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States and into Mexico. Their presence brings color and song to backyards.
Acorns in a Cardinal’s Diet
Northern Cardinals do not rely on acorns as a significant food source. While their strong, cone-shaped beaks are suited for cracking various seeds and some nuts, acorns are sizable and challenging. Their beaks are adapted for crushing smaller to medium-sized seeds, not typical acorns. Though a cardinal might occasionally peck at an acorn, it is not a primary diet component.
The Cardinal’s True Diet
The primary diet of the Northern Cardinal consists overwhelmingly of plant material, making up to 90% of their food intake. They are primarily seed-eaters, with a particular fondness for black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds, which they expertly crack with their robust beaks. Cardinals also consume a variety of other seeds from weeds and grasses, along with grains and cracked corn. Beyond seeds, these adaptable birds regularly forage for fruits and berries throughout the year. Common choices include dogwood, mulberry, wild grape, elderberry, and hackberry, from which they often extract and consume the inner seeds. During the warmer months, and especially when feeding their young, Northern Cardinals supplement their plant-based diet with a range of insects. This includes beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, cicadas, and spiders, providing essential protein for growing nestlings.
Welcoming Cardinals to Your Space
Attracting Northern Cardinals to a backyard involves providing their preferred food, water, and suitable shelter. Offering black oil sunflower seeds or safflower seeds in sturdy feeders is highly effective, as these are favorite foods. Cardinals appreciate platform, tray, or hopper feeders that offer a stable surface and ample space for them to perch while feeding. Placing some seeds directly on the ground can also appeal to their natural ground-foraging habits.
Providing a reliable water source, such as a bird bath, is also beneficial, especially if it has a depth of 2-3 inches. A heated bird bath can be particularly inviting during colder months when natural water sources may freeze. Additionally, planting dense shrubs and trees, particularly evergreens, offers cardinals the protective cover they seek for shelter, roosting, and nesting. These natural elements create a welcoming habitat, encouraging cardinals to visit and potentially reside in the area.