Northern Cardinals are a familiar sight and sound across many parts of North America, recognized for their vibrant colors and distinctive songs. These non-migratory birds remain in their territories year-round, adding a splash of red to landscapes even in winter. Understanding their nesting habits can help appreciate their role in local ecosystems.
Preferred Nesting Plants
Cardinals prefer certain trees and shrubs for nesting. They frequently choose dense evergreen options like pines, junipers, spruces, and cedars, which offer year-round concealment. These coniferous plants provide consistent cover, which is particularly beneficial as cardinals begin nesting early in the spring, sometimes before deciduous trees fully leaf out.
Cardinals also favor thorny shrubs such as hawthorns, multiflora roses, and blackberry brambles. The dense, often prickly, branches of these plants offer a physical barrier, deterring potential predators from reaching the nest. Deciduous shrubs and small trees providing thick cover are also utilized, including dogwood, honeysuckle, lilac, mulberry, serviceberry, crabapple, elm, sugar maple, and box elder. Grapevines are another common choice, offering both dense tangles and material for nest construction.
Ideal Nesting Site Features
Cardinals seek nesting locations that offer concealment and protection. They consistently select sites with dense foliage, which provides camouflage from predators and shelter from the elements. Nests are typically cup-shaped, often nestled securely in a fork of small branches within a sapling, shrub, or vine tangle.
Nests are usually positioned low to the ground, between 3 and 15 feet high. This height offers a balance between avoiding ground predators and remaining hidden within the lower or middle canopy. Cardinals also build nests in “edge habitats,” where open areas meet dense vegetation, such as forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, and suburban backyards. Proximity to water sources and available food also influences site selection.
Encouraging Cardinal Nesting in Your Space
Creating an inviting environment can encourage cardinals to nest in your yard. Planting a variety of dense shrubs and small trees, particularly evergreens, provides the secure, secluded areas they prefer. Group these plants to form thickets, offering multiple options since cardinals do not typically reuse the same nest each year and may have multiple broods per season.
Provide a reliable water source, such as a shallow bird bath, for drinking and bathing. Keep feeders stocked with favored seeds like black oil sunflower seeds and suet for a consistent food supply. Minimize disturbance during nesting season (March to late August) and avoid pesticides to protect adult birds and their young. Offering nesting materials like pine needles, grass clippings, and small twigs can further aid their nest-building efforts.