The sight of a brilliant red bird is often a highlight of any backyard viewing, but the females of these species are frequently overlooked due to their less vibrant colors. This difference in appearance between the sexes can lead to confusion, as the female bird may not look “red” at all. Many bird species feature males with bright plumage while their female counterparts exhibit more subdued coloration. For most people seeking information on a common red bird, the focus is on the widespread Northern Cardinal.
The Appearance of the Female Northern Cardinal
The female Northern Cardinal presents a palette of soft browns and olives rather than the intense crimson of the male. Her primary body color is a warm, brownish-gray, which covers her back, breast, and sides. This muted coloration provides effective camouflage while she is sitting on her nest.
Despite her overall subdued body, the female cardinal possesses specific red accents that distinguish her from other brown birds. She features a reddish tint on the wings, tail, and the prominent crest atop her head. These touches of red-orange plumage hint at her relationship to the male.
A distinctive feature shared by both sexes is the cone-shaped, thick beak, which is a bright coral or red-orange color. The female also has a prominent, pointed crest that she can raise or lower. Her face is marked by a black or grayish mask that surrounds the beak, though this mask is less extensive and less defined than the male’s.
Key Differences Between Male and Female Cardinals
The difference in appearance between male and female Northern Cardinals is an example of sexual dimorphism, where the sexes of a species exhibit distinct color patterns. The male cardinal is almost entirely brilliant crimson red, with the color extending across his entire body, wings, and crest. This vibrant plumage is a result of carotenoid pigments acquired through the bird’s diet.
The female’s plumage is dominated by the pale brown or olive hue, with the reddish color acting only as an accent. Another point of contrast is the facial mask; the male’s mask is a solid, deep black that sharply contrasts with his red feathers. The female’s mask is often a duller gray to black and appears less pronounced on her fawn-colored face.
This difference in color saturation serves a practical biological purpose related to nesting success. The female’s subdued coloring allows her to blend into the surrounding vegetation when she is incubating eggs. This camouflage reduces the risk of attracting predators to the nest site. The most reliable way to differentiate the sexes is the stark contrast between the male’s full red coat and the female’s brownish-gray plumage with reddish highlights.
Identifying Similar Female Birds
The female Northern Cardinal is sometimes confused with the females of other red-colored males, particularly finches and tanagers. The female House Finch is a small, streaky brown bird that lacks the cardinal’s prominent crest and thick, bright orange beak. Her body is heavily marked with blurry brown streaks across a grayish-white underside, and she has a relatively plain face.
Another bird often mistaken for a drab cardinal is the female Purple Finch, which also features heavy streaking on her breast and flanks. However, the female Purple Finch has a more distinct facial pattern, often described as having a bold, contrasting white stripe above her eye. Unlike the cardinal, neither the female House Finch nor the female Purple Finch possesses a crest.
The female Summer Tanager is another possibility, as the male is one of the few completely red birds in North America. The female Summer Tanager is an overall mustard-yellow or olive-green color, with a pale, thick bill and a head that may appear slightly crested. Her solid yellow-green body color and lack of the cardinal’s distinctive red accents and black mask make her easy to distinguish.