Northern Cardinals are easily recognized birds, frequently seen in backyards across North America. Males display striking red plumage, while females are a more subdued reddish-brown with red accents. Both sexes feature a distinctive crest and an orange-red, cone-shaped beak. These non-migratory songbirds are visible year-round.
The Cardinal’s Primary Diet
Northern Cardinals are primarily seed-eaters. Their diet consists mostly of plant matter, including a wide range of seeds from weeds and grasses, as well as various berries and wild fruits. Common seeds they favor include black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds, which are often found in backyard bird feeders. Their stout, cone-shaped beak is adapted for cracking open seeds.
While seeds and fruits form the bulk of their diet, particularly in winter, cardinals also consume insects. This insect consumption increases during the summer, especially when feeding their young, who require protein for growth. Examples of insects they eat include beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, and flies, along with spiders and snails.
Cardinals and Other Birds: A Clear Answer
Northern Cardinals do not prey on or consume other birds, their eggs, or their young. Their physical adaptations, such as their cone-shaped beak, are suited for processing seeds, fruits, and insects. Birds that hunt other birds possess sharp talons and hooked beaks. Cardinals lack these specialized features, confirming their role as primarily seed and insect eaters rather than predators of other avian species.
Understanding Cardinal Behavior
Observations of cardinals interacting with other birds can sometimes lead to misunderstandings about their diet. Northern Cardinals are known for their territorial behavior, especially during the breeding season. During this period, males defend their nesting areas and mates from intruders, including other cardinals and different bird species. This defensive behavior might involve aggressive displays, chasing, or even pecking, but it is a means of protecting resources and offspring, not an attempt to hunt or consume other birds.
Cardinals may also attack their own reflections in windows or mirrors, mistaking them for rival birds invading their territory. While they consume insects and spiders, this is part of their omnivorous diet and should not be confused with predation on other birds. Outside the breeding season, cardinals often become more communal, sometimes forming mixed-species flocks with other birds like juncos and sparrows to forage for food.