By Jim Knox
We waited for their arrival, and they never failed to disappoint. Like clockwork, as dusk settled, they would appear. Unmistakable, their vivid red plumage seemed to defy the darkening light around them. In small groups of two or three, the cautious males would appear, feed briefly and then zip into the darkening woods beyond. Though gone, there was no doubting their identity. The bright red birds were striking and unforgettable.
Cardinalis cardinalis, better known as the Northern Cardinal, is a bird of backyard feeders and wilderness alike. At 8-9 inches in length and sporting brilliant red plumage, black mask, and a sharply-angled crest, the Northern Cardinal has been called the most familiar, conspicuous, and stylish bird of all. It is often cited as the bird responsible for attracting more birders than any other species and its cheerful song catches the ear as readily as its coloration catches the eye. Known as one of the few North American songbird species in which the female sings, it is hypothesized that the female sings when incubating her clutch of eggs to inform the male of potential predators and to let him know when the “coast is clear” to fly in with food on a moment’s notice. Yet the Cardinal’s repertoire is far broader than a simple alarm call, encompassing more than 24 songs.
Ranging across diverse habitats from Maine throughout most of the continental United States and southward to Mexico and Belize, this member of the finch family was traditionally a bird of southern climes which has adapted its range northward. Now known as a bird of New England, and a year ‘round resident, the cardinal is a mainstay at bird feeders throughout even the coldest winters. With its colors defying the whites and grays of winter, it is a welcome sight which brings a bold flash of life to the dark and dormant months. With its non-migratory habits and the fact it doesn’t molt into dull plumage like most of its kin, the Cardinal stays on the radar of birders, naturalists, and photographers. Getting their name from their color reminiscent of the scarlet biretta and vestments of Catholic Cardinals, the hues of their plumage are acquired through the carotenoid-rich fruit and red-pigmented berries they eat. Females, by contrast, sport the bright red crest and accents but retain a brown-gray plumage. With a conical, seed-cracking pink beak and long tail rounding out their appearance, it’s easy to see why so many are enamored with them. In fact, Cardinals were kept as pet birds until 1918, when the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act made this practice illegal.
Its popularity is not confined to lovers of nature alone. Northern Cardinals are the most popular state bird of all, serving as the state bird of seven states; Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Yet the bird’s popularity cannot be ascribed to its flashy appearance alone. Their feisty nature and persistent protection of their mates, nests, and young, has inspired countless observers and earned them mascot status at the highest levels. From Major League Baseball to the NFL, and from the Pac-12 to the CIAC, Cardinal teams are teams to reckon with and have earned conference and national titles alike!
Behaviorally, Cardinals are unique creatures. Ornithologists believe the bird’s habit of feeding in low light periods around dawn and dusk is likely a response to predator avoidance, in which their striking coloration is muted by such low light conditions. These monogamous birds are also among the few species to engage in the act of “beak to beak” in which males feed females’ seeds. Known for their nurturing nature, Cardinals also feed and protect their mates and young with greater attentiveness than most bird species. Resilient as well as beautiful, Northern Cardinals face a gauntlet of survival threats from starvation and disease to predators and even accidents such as window strikes. With such threats, Cardinals adapt and overcome the odds—especially during harsh New England winters. Temporarily abandoning their fierce territorial nature, Northern Cardinals congregate to form flocks known as conclaves, colleges, or Vaticans. Such adaptive social structure enables the birds to collectively forage and find food with greater success. Likewise, many pairs of eyes and ears enable Cardinals to both maintain and enhance their vigilance to potential predators.
Whether it’s the flash of scarlet that catches your eye, or its cheerful song that catches your ear, give the Cardinal your attention and it will return the favor with a dash of inspiration.
Jim Knox is Curator of Education at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo where he directs education and conservation initiatives to advance the protection of wildlife in Connecticut and beyond.
