The Northern Cardinal, with its striking plumage and melodious song, is a familiar sight across North America. Many people observe these birds in their backyards and often wonder about the extent of male involvement in raising their young. This highlights the intricate and cooperative nature of cardinal parenting. This article explores the comprehensive roles of both male and female cardinals throughout the nesting and chick-rearing process.
The Male Cardinal’s Parental Duties
Male Northern Cardinals actively participate in feeding their nestlings. They bring a varied diet to the growing chicks, primarily consisting of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders, which provide essential protein and moisture for development. While both parents feed the young, males may contribute a significant portion of the food, sometimes feeding chicks up to 60% of the time as they age.
Beyond feeding the nestlings directly, the male cardinal plays an important role in supporting the female during incubation and brooding. He consistently brings food to her at the nest, sometimes as frequently as three times an hour, allowing her to remain on the eggs or newly hatched chicks without needing to leave for foraging. This behavior, known as courtship feeding, often begins even before eggs are laid and continues through the nesting period. Additionally, the male vigilantly guards the nesting territory, chasing away intruders and potential predators like hawks, squirrels, and jays, ensuring the safety of the nest and its contents.
The Female Cardinal’s Essential Contributions
The female cardinal undertakes primary responsibility for nest construction. She meticulously builds a cup-shaped nest, typically hidden in dense shrubs, vines, or low trees, usually between 3 to 10 feet off the ground. She uses her beak to crush twigs and other materials, making them pliable, and then shapes the nest by turning within it, creating a sturdy structure lined with finer materials like grass, rootlets, and animal fur. While the male may bring some materials, the female performs most of the building, a process that usually takes three to nine days.
Once the nest is complete, the female lays two to five eggs, typically one per day, and begins the incubation process. Incubation lasts approximately 11 to 13 days, and during this time, the female is almost always the one sitting on the eggs, though she takes short breaks to stretch or forage. After the eggs hatch, she is responsible for brooding the altricial chicks, keeping them warm and protected during their first few days of life. Both parents feed the nestlings, but the female often contributes significantly to feeding, especially in the very early stages. She also maintains nest hygiene by removing fecal sacs, which are mucous-encased waste products from the nestlings, either by carrying them away or sometimes consuming them, which helps deter predators and keep the nest clean.
Beyond the Nest: Caring for Fledglings
Cardinal parental care extends into the fledgling period. Fledglings are young birds that have left the nest, typically 7 to 13 days after hatching, but are not yet capable of independent survival. They may not be strong flyers immediately after leaving the nest, often spending time in dense vegetation on the ground or low branches.
Both parents continue to feed and protect these fledglings for several weeks, often for 20 days or longer, as they gradually learn to forage for themselves. The male cardinal frequently takes primary responsibility for caring for the fledglings, while the female may begin preparing for a second or even third brood of the season. During this time, the parents teach their offspring essential survival skills, including how to find food and avoid predators, guiding them toward full independence.