The Northern Cardinal is a familiar and cherished sight, leading to curiosity about their life cycle, particularly how long baby cardinals remain in their nest. Understanding this offers insight into their remarkable development.
Time in the Nest
Northern Cardinal nestlings typically stay in their nests for 9 to 11 days after hatching, though this period can range from 7 to 13 days. When they first hatch, these chicks are altricial: they are naked or have sparse grayish down, are blind, and entirely dependent on their parents for survival.
Rapid development occurs during this nestling phase. Their eyes open around 4 days of age, and pin feathers, the beginnings of their adult plumage, start to emerge. Both male and female parents feed the nestlings, bringing protein-rich insects and larvae to support their growth. The male often brings food to the female, who then feeds the young during the initial days. As the nestlings grow, they are fed with increasing frequency, sometimes up to 11 times an hour. The young birds leave the nest when they have developed enough to fly short distances.
The Fledgling Stage
Immediately after leaving the nest, young cardinals enter the fledgling stage, where they are out of the nest but not yet fully independent. These fledglings are fully feathered, though their wings and tail may be short, and their plumage often appears fluffy or scruffy, lacking the vibrant red of adult males. Their beaks are typically dark, changing to the familiar orange-red as they mature.
Fledglings are not proficient flyers when they first leave the nest; they often hop on the ground or make short, awkward flights, hiding in dense vegetation for safety. They remain dependent on their parents for food, guidance, and protection. The male cardinal often takes on the responsibility of feeding and watching over the fledglings for several weeks, sometimes up to two months, allowing the female to prepare for another brood. During this period, the young cardinals gradually learn to forage for themselves and strengthen their flight muscles, eventually becoming independent.
Encountering Young Cardinals
Finding a young cardinal on the ground is a common occurrence, and in most cases, it does not mean the bird is abandoned or in distress. Fledglings spend time on the ground as they develop their flight skills, and their parents are usually nearby, continuing to care for them. It is best to observe from a distance and avoid immediate intervention.
Intervention is necessary only if the bird is clearly injured or in immediate danger. Signs that a young bird may need help include visible injuries like bleeding or broken limbs, shivering, or if it is featherless or has closed eyes, indicating it is a nestling that has fallen from its nest. If a nestling is found uninjured on the ground, and the nest can be located, it can often be gently returned to its nest.
If a fledgling is in a hazardous location, such as a road or threatened by a pet, it can be moved to a safer, nearby spot like a bush or low branch. For injured birds or situations where a bird’s parents are confirmed to be absent, contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator is the recommended course of action.