The Northern Cardinal, with its striking plumage and distinctive song, is a familiar and cherished sight across many North American landscapes. Male cardinals display a vibrant red coloration, while females exhibit a more subdued, reddish-olive hue, both featuring a prominent crest and a stout, cone-shaped beak. Their presence often brings a flash of color and a cheerful melody to backyards and natural areas, making them easily recognizable.
Geographic Distribution
Northern Cardinals are widely distributed across eastern and central North America, extending from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States, and reaching as far west as parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Their range also stretches south into Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
Unlike many bird species, Northern Cardinals are non-migratory, remaining in the same area year-round, even during colder months. This resident status contributes to their visibility throughout the year, allowing them to be enjoyed in winter landscapes where other birds may have departed. The species has demonstrated a gradual range expansion northward, attributed in part to factors like warming climates and the increased availability of supplemental food from bird feeders in suburban areas. They have also been introduced to a few locations, including Bermuda and Hawaii.
Habitat Preferences
Northern Cardinals prefer environments with dense cover and open spaces for foraging. They commonly inhabit woodland edges, thickets, and shrublands. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in human-modified landscapes, including suburban gardens, parks, and urban areas. Dense shrubs and vegetation are important, providing both protective shelter and suitable nesting sites.
Cardinals adapt to human activity due to the availability of food sources and protective cover. Backyard bird feeders, especially those offering sunflower seeds, attract cardinals and have contributed to their population stability and range expansion. The mix of open ground for foraging and dense undergrowth for refuge from predators and adverse weather conditions makes these habitats ideal for their survival.
Nesting and Roosting Sites
Northern Cardinals construct their nests in dense vegetation, choosing shrubs, small trees, or thick vines. These nests are usually well-hidden and positioned between 1 to 15 feet off the ground. The female cardinal primarily builds the nest, crafting an open, cup-shaped structure. Nest materials include coarse twigs, plant stems, leaves, and finer linings such as grass, rootlets, bark strips, and pine needles.
For roosting and shelter, particularly during inclement weather or at night, cardinals seek out dense evergreen trees, thickets, and other protected vegetation. This dense cover provides refuge from predators and harsh environmental conditions. Nests placed within thick foliage conceal eggs and young from threats. Cardinals do not reuse their nests, building a new one for each brood, which can occur multiple times within a breeding season.