Northern Cardinals are a familiar sight in many backyards, recognized for their striking red plumage in males and their cheerful songs. These birds are often observed in pairs, prompting a common question: do cardinals feed each other? This behavior is a part of their lives, and it serves several functions within their species.
Observing the Behavior
Cardinals do feed each other. One cardinal will offer food to another, often involving a direct transfer of food from beak to beak. This act can sometimes appear as if one bird is regurgitating food for the other, although it is typically a direct and gentle hand-off of items like seeds or insects. The bird receiving the food may exhibit a posture similar to a young bird begging, with fluttering wings. Cardinals are omnivores, consuming a varied diet of seeds, insects, and berries.
Reasons Behind the Shared Meals
The act of one cardinal feeding another is rooted in two functions: parental care and courtship. Both male and female cardinals feed their young. After hatching, nestlings are fed by both parents, with insects. Young cardinals fledge approximately 9 to 11 days after hatching. Even after fledging, parents continue to feed their young for several weeks, with the male often feeding the fledglings while the female prepares for a subsequent brood.
Courtship feeding, also known as mate feeding, is predominantly seen with the male feeding the female. This ritual often occurs early in the breeding season, sometimes even before nest building. The male will present food, such as seeds or berries, to the female by placing it in her beak. This provides the female with additional nutrition, beneficial during egg-laying and incubation. The male may continue to feed the female while she is incubating eggs, reducing her need to leave the nest and expose eggs to predators.
The Role of Feeding in Cardinal Society
These feeding behaviors play a role in the social structure and reproductive success of Northern Cardinals. Courtship feeding strengthens the pair bond. By providing food, the male signals his commitment and reliability as a partner. This display helps establish a partnership, reinforcing their monogamous tendencies.
The cooperative feeding of young by both parents ensures the survival and development of their offspring. The male’s continued feeding of fledglings allows the female to conserve energy and potentially begin a new nesting attempt, which can lead to multiple broods within a single breeding season. These acts of feeding are social signals that underpin the cardinals’ reproductive strategy and cooperative parenting efforts.