Northern Cardinal

birds · songbirds · backyard visitors · North America

Striking red plumage. Male northern cardinals are bright red with a black face mask, while females are tan or buff colored. Both males and females can sing, which is unusual for birds since usually only males sing.

Backyard favorite. These birds love gardens, woodlands, and shrubby areas where they can find seeds and berries to eat. They're common visitors to bird feeders in the eastern United States.

State bird champion. The northern cardinal is the official state bird of seven U.S. states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. That's more than any other bird!

Spreading worldwide. While native to North America, cardinals were introduced to Hawaii in 1929 and Bermuda, where they've made new homes and thrived in their adopted lands.

Beautiful singers. Northern cardinals are known for their clear, loud whistling songs that sound like 'cheer-cheer-cheer' or 'birdie-birdie-birdie,' and both males and females can be heard singing throughout the year.