Cardinals

Quick Take

• That bright red male cardinal at your feeder doesn't always look that way, and his appearance transforms in a way most people never notice. See the plumage changes →
• Of the 53 species in the cardinal family, only 3 qualify as 'true' cardinals, while the rest carry a surprising identity. Meet the true cardinals →
• Cardinals trace their lineage back to a predator that walked the Earth 66 million years ago, and that ancestor was not a bird. Trace their dinosaur roots →
• Most cardinal species thrive with stable populations, but a handful face a threat that has nothing to do with hunting or direct harm. See the key threats →

The cardinal is a family of medium- and large-sized songbirds endemic to North and South America. They inhabit many habitats, from forests to scrublands, and many species in North America migrate south for the winter. The males are known for being brilliant shades of red, blue, and orange, while the females often look very different in their dull, brown plumage.

5 Amazing Cardinal Facts

• Cardinals inhabit areas from northwestern Canada to the southern tip of South America.
• There are 11 genera and about 53 species in the cardinal family.
• Cardinals are sexually dichromatic, meaning males and females differ in appearance.
• Species in the neotropics live in their environment year-round, while a few species in the United States and Canada migrate south for the winter; most are year-round residents.
• Over 80% of the cardinal family has a conservation status of “least concern.”

History And Origin

The science of phylogeny, which is the study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities, used studies of ancestral states and grouped organisms based on genetic similarity to show that birds, lizards, turtles, snakes, and crocodilians were all descended from the original reptile ancestor. It is believed that cardinals, and all birds, evolved from theropods, which were most likely the avian lineage from which all birds quickly adapted to their environments after most of the dinosaurs died out at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 66 million years ago.

Where To Find The Cardinal

The cardinal lives across two continents: North and South America. You can find them as far north as Canada and as far south as the southern tip of South America near Argentina and Uruguay. However, Central America contains the most cardinal species. These birds live in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and arid scrublands.

Nests

Most species build open-cup nests placed high in the trees. Generally, males and females build the nest together. However, in some species, the female will construct it on her own. They make it using grasses and twigs, occasionally lining the inside with softer material. 

Classification and Scientific Name

The Cardinalidae family is a group of passerine birds endemic to the Americas. There are 11 genera in the family and about 53 individual species: tanagers, grosbeaks, chats, cardinals, seedeaters, buntings, and one dickcissel. 

Types Of Cardinals

While there are 53 individual species in the family Cardinalidae, the genus Cardinalis contains the only three “true” cardinals. These are:

• Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis): found in the U.S. from Maine to Texas; in Canada from Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and extending west from the U.S.-Mexico border down to northern Guatemala and northern Belize.
• Desert Cardinal (Cardinalis sinuatus): found in the following U.S. states: Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; also found in northern Mexico.
• Vermilion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus): found in Colombia and Venezuela.

Size, Appearance, & Behavior

The cardinal family consists of medium to large-sized songbirds. They have stout bodies, measuring between 4.5 and 11 inches long and averaging 0.8 to 1.5 ounces. Chats and buntings have small bills, while seedeaters, cardinals, and grosbeaks have large bills. Most species have large heads, short legs, and medium-sized pointed wings. Cardinalids are sexually dichromatic, meaning males and females look very different. The males can be bright red, orange, and blue, while the females are usually duller in color. Males in temperate regions will molt into their winter plumage, which resembles the female. But those in tropical areas will keep their bright colors year-round. 

Migration Pattern and Timing

Species from the neotropics live in their environment year-round. Those in the Western United States and Canada are breeding migrants, meaning they travel further south during the winter. In fact, most North American species migrate south for the winter, some going as far as the neotropics in Central and South America.

Diet

Members of the cardinal family are omnivores that primarily forage close to the ground. They have an extensive diet and feed on a variety of insects, as well as vegetable matter, fruits, and berries.

What Does The Cardinal Eat?

These birds eat insects, fruit, nectar, sap, and seeds. Most species rely heavily on invertebrates during the breeding season to refuel themselves and their young. Some members, like the true cardinals, buntings, and grosbeaks, have thick bills for crushing seeds, while others, like the tanagers, feed on fruit, nectar, and small insects. Most forage low on trees or the ground, but some will forage in high canopies.

Predators, Threats, And Conservation Status

The IUCN lists over 80% of the cardinal family as LC or “least concern.” Due to their extensive range and significant population size, most species do not reach the threshold for “threatened” status. However, several species, like the rose-bellied bunting and black-cheeked ant-tanager, are listed as NT or “near-threatened.” Certain species with a small range suffer the most. The primary concern for the cardinal family is the loss of habitat from forest fragmentation. These birds are also highly vulnerable to climate change.

What Eats The Cardinal?

The cardinal’s main predators include birds of prey like hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. They are also preyed on by snakes, jays, squirrels, and domestic animals like dogs and cats. Males sing and use alarm calls to warn of nearby predators. Most male cardinals are relatively aggressive and will defend their nest by swooping and diving at intruders.

Reproduction, Young, And Molting

Most cardinal species are monogamous, but typically only for one breeding season. They may move on to another mate during the following season. The breeding season in temperate regions is limited to certain times of year, while breeding occurs year-round in tropical areas. Cardinals lay between one and six eggs and will produce one to three broods per season. Both males and females participate in incubation, and males often bring food. The incubation period averages 11 to 13 days. The young fledge the nest within one to two weeks. Cardinals usually reach sexual maturity around one year and can live from three to fifteen years.

Population

The global population of the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is estimated to be around 100 to 120 million, and its population appears stable. Several species have decreasing populations, like the orange-breasted bunting and the glaucous-blue grosbeak. Habitat loss is the primary reason for their decline.