Red Crest of the Thicket: A Guide to the Northern Cardinal

Unmistakable in appearance and cheerful in song, the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is the state bird of seven U.S. states. The brilliant crimson plumage of the male and the warm fawn-tan tones of the female both topped with sharp crests and orange beaks make them instantly recognizable in any setting.

1. Native Range and Habitat

• Range: Common throughout eastern and central North America, extending south through Mexico.
• Habitat: Brushy forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, suburban garden borders, and wetland thickets.

2. Eating Habits and Heavy-Duty Bill

The cardinal’s heavy, cone-shaped bill is built for cracking tough seeds:

• Diet: Sunflower seeds, safflower, weed seeds, wild berries (dogwood, grape, sumac), and insects (beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers) during chick rearing.
• Feeder Favorites: Black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds served on platform or hopper feeders.

3. Fascinating Cardinal Facts

• Both Sexes Sing: In most North American songbird species, only males sing. Female Northern Cardinals routinely sing from the nest, often signaling to the male when to bring back food.
• Mate Feeding: During courtship in early spring, males collect seeds and tenderly feed them directly into the female’s beak.
• Non-Migratory Loyalty: Cardinals do not migrate and rarely travel more than a few miles from where they were born.

4. Native Plants that Support Cardinals

• Dogwood (Cornus flora): High-fat berries fuel cardinals in fall.
• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): Provides insect habitat and dense foliage.
• Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana): Offers crucial windbreak cover during freezing winter nights.

5. How to Help Cardinals

• Provide Thick Cover: Cardinals nest in thickets rather than bird boxes. Plant dense shrubbery like hawthorn, native plum, or arborvitae.
• Water Stations: Keep a heated birdbath running in winter so cardinals don’t expend energy melting ice for hydration.