Northern Cardinals are a familiar sight in many backyards, recognized by the male’s vibrant red plumage and distinctive songs. These non-migratory birds often remain in the same areas year-round. Understanding their nesting preferences can help create a suitable environment. This article explores the types of trees and shrubs cardinals prefer for nesting, the characteristics of their chosen sites, and ways to encourage them to nest in your outdoor space.
Preferred Tree and Shrub Species for Cardinal Nests
Northern Cardinals commonly select dense trees and shrubs for their nests, relying on foliage for concealment. Species like dogwoods, hawthorns, and elms are frequently chosen for their structure and leaf cover. Evergreen trees such as junipers, cedars, spruces, pines, and hemlocks are also favored, offering year-round shelter and dense protection.
Cardinals also utilize large shrubs and thicket-forming plants. Honeysuckle, rose bushes, and grapevines provide tangled, secure locations for nest building. Other plants like mulberry, serviceberry, elderberry, and crabapple trees are attractive due to their dense branching patterns, offering cover and potential food sources. These species provide significant visual obstruction and physical barriers against predators.
Key Characteristics of Cardinal Nesting Sites
Cardinal nesting sites are chosen for effective concealment and security. They build cup-shaped nests in dense foliage, ensuring they are well hidden. Nests are usually situated in a fork of small branches within a sapling, shrub, or vine tangle. This dense cover is crucial, as cardinals do not use enclosed structures like birdhouses, preferring open nests within natural vegetation.
Nests are generally placed 3 to 15 feet off the ground, with many found between 5 and 10 feet. While some may be as low as one foot, nests higher than 15 feet are less common. Thorny branches in species like hawthorns offer an additional layer of defense. Cardinals also favor nesting locations near reliable food and water sources, often found in varied habitats like forest edges or suburban gardens.
Encouraging Cardinals to Nest in Your Yard
To encourage Northern Cardinals to nest in your yard, cultivate a habitat that meets their needs for cover, food, and water. Planting a diverse array of dense shrubs and trees, including evergreens, provides the protective cover they seek. Layering your landscaping with plants of varying heights, from ground cover to taller shrubs and small trees, creates a complex and inviting environment.
Providing consistent food sources, such as black oil sunflower seeds, safflower, and cracked corn, can attract cardinals to your yard. Additionally, offering a clean, reliable water source like a bird bath is beneficial, as cardinals use water for both drinking and bathing. Minimizing disturbances in areas where you hope cardinals might nest can also help them feel secure enough to establish a territory and raise their young.