The Northern Cardinal, a familiar and striking bird, is widely recognized for the male’s vibrant red plumage and the female’s more subdued, yet equally distinctive, reddish-brown hues. These non-migratory birds are a common sight across eastern North America, from southeastern Canada down through parts of Central America. Their presence makes them a popular subject for observation.
Primary Food Sources
Northern Cardinals are omnivores, consuming a varied diet of both plant and animal matter. Up to 90% of their diet consists of plant-based materials like weed seeds, grains, and fruits. They are particularly fond of seeds like black oil sunflower and safflower seeds, which are often provided in bird feeders. Other seeds and grains they consume include buckwheat, grasses, sedges, and corn.
Cardinals also readily eat wild fruits and berries, including dogwood berries, wild grapes, sumac, mulberries, hackberries, and blackberries. These fruits provide essential nutrients and the carotenoid pigments responsible for the male cardinal’s vivid red coloration. Insects form a smaller, but important, part of the adult cardinal’s diet, typically 10-30%. They forage on insects such as beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, ants, flies, cicadas, crickets, and spiders. Snails and centipedes are also occasionally consumed.
Seasonal Diet Shifts
The diet of Northern Cardinals changes throughout the year, influenced by food availability. During the colder months, from November through April, plant material makes up over 75% of their diet, with seeds and grains becoming especially important. This reliance on seeds, including those found in bird feeders, is crucial for their survival when insects are scarce and energy demands are high.
As temperatures rise in spring and summer, the cardinal’s diet shifts to include more protein-rich insects. This increased insect consumption is vital during the breeding season, as insects are the main food source for nestlings and provide the protein needed for their rapid growth. Fruits and berries also become more abundant in warmer months, providing additional energy and nutrients for both adults and young.
Foraging Habits
Northern Cardinals typically forage on or near the ground, often hopping through low branches and bushes. They prefer to search for food in dense cover, feeling safer with protective foliage nearby. While they visit bird feeders, much of their foraging occurs on the ground, where they pick up fallen seeds and other edibles.
Outside of the breeding season, cardinals may form larger flocks of up to several dozen birds, which can increase their foraging success. During foraging, younger birds often yield to adults, and females tend to defer to males.
Anatomical Adaptations for Feeding
The Northern Cardinal has physical characteristics well-suited for its diverse diet. Their most notable adaptation is their strong, cone-shaped beak, designed for cracking open the hard shells of various seeds, such as sunflower and safflower.
The downward curve of their beak further aids in crushing seeds. Cardinals also have larger jaw muscles compared to many other songbirds, providing the necessary force to process tougher food items. These adaptations allow them to efficiently consume a wide range of plant materials, including large seeds, and crush the exoskeletons of insects.