The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a familiar and easily recognizable songbird across much of North America, known for the male’s vibrant red plumage and distinctive crest. This resident remains in its range year-round, meaning its reproductive cycle is a subject of frequent observation and interest. Understanding the total time a cardinal pair dedicates to a single nesting attempt reveals the intense parental commitment required. This complete timeline, from the first twig laid to the moment the young leave the nest, answers how long cardinals nest.
Setting the Stage: Nest Construction and Clutch Size
The nesting process begins with the female selecting a highly concealed spot, often in dense shrubbery, thickets, or tangles of vines, typically positioning the nest about three to 15 feet off the ground. The nest itself is a cup-shaped structure, built almost entirely by the female, although the male may assist by bringing materials to her. She meticulously crushes the outer twigs with her beak to make them pliable, forming the initial platform and outer layer of the nest.
The construction process usually takes between three and nine days to complete. The finished structure is composed of four distinct layers: an outer layer of coarse twigs, followed by a leafy mat, then lined with finer bark strips, and finally cushioned with grasses, rootlets, and pine needles. Once the nest is ready, the female lays her eggs, typically producing a clutch of three to four eggs.
The Complete Timeline: Incubation and Fledging
The sequential timeline for a single nesting cycle begins once the female has finished laying her clutch of eggs. Incubation, the period during which the eggs are warmed until hatching, is performed almost exclusively by the female. The male’s role shifts to bringing food to the incubating female and defending the territory.
This incubation phase lasts approximately 12 to 13 days. After the eggs hatch, the young, now called nestlings, remain in the nest for a relatively short time. Both parents work continuously to feed the rapidly growing young, primarily providing a diet of insects and spiders.
The nestling period is typically between nine and 11 days. During this time, the nestlings grow quickly, developing the feathers necessary for flight. They leave the nest before they are capable of strong, sustained flight, which is why they are referred to as fledglings.
The total duration of a single nesting attempt, from the completion of the clutch to the moment the young fledge, is approximately 21 to 26 days. The parents continue to feed and care for these fledglings for several weeks after they leave the nest, guiding them as they learn to forage independently.
Prolific Parents: How Many Times Do Cardinals Nest in a Season?
Northern Cardinals are known to be prolific breeders, engaging in multiple nesting cycles throughout their long breeding season. While many bird species raise only one or two broods, cardinals typically attempt two to three broods per season, and occasionally even four. This extended reproductive period can begin as early as March in southern latitudes and continue through late summer, often into August or September.
The strategy for managing these multiple cycles involves a division of parental labor to maximize efficiency. Once the first set of young has fledged, the male assumes the primary responsibility for feeding and caring for them. This care can continue for several weeks after the young leave the nest.
This dedicated care from the male allows the female to begin building the next nest and laying a new clutch of eggs almost immediately. By overlapping the care of the fledglings with the incubation of the next clutch, the pair is able to successfully raise multiple broods in a single season. The female constructs an entirely new nest for each attempt, as they rarely reuse a previous site.