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 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis photo
Northern Cardinal (Male), Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)




Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis photo
Northern Cardinal (Female), Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)





NORTHERN CARDINAL FACTS
Description
the Northern Cardinals is a medium-sized songbird with a prominent crest on top of the head and a long tail. Males are bright red with black on the front of the face. Females are pale gray brown with some reddish highlights on the wings and crest. They have stout orange conical bills. Immature birds are similar to adult females, but have dark gray bill.

Size
length 21cm - 23cm

Environment
woodland edges, hedgerows, parks and gardens. Attracted to garden bird feeders.

Food
seeds, insects, fruit

Breeding
Nest is built in dense foliage in vine, shrub or small tree. Lays one to five (usually 3) white to greenish eggs that hatch after 11 to 13 days.

Range
Northern Cardinals are found in south eastern Canada, eastern half of the United States, eastern Mexico and Central America.

Classification
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Cardinalidae
Genus:Cardinalis
Species:cardinalis
Common Name:Northern Cardinal


Relatives in same Genus
  Pyrrhuloxia (C. sinuatus)







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