The Northern Cardinal State Birds (week 6)

Now this is one very popular bird; it is the mascot for many sports teams (when I was in grade school our basketball team was called, the Schofield School Cardinals) and the state bird for seven states. North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia have named this bird their state bird; it is so colorful. Cardinals are shy birds, they are often among the first to the feeders in the morning and the last to the feeders at night. They don't seem to compete with other birds for time at the feeder, but are very territorial when it comes to breeding and nesting. 

The Cardinal stays all year long around here and this would be an excellent bird to start the hobby of bird watching with. They love and need seeds in the winter so if you put out a feeder with sunflower seeds in it you might get a pair to show up at you house. Make sure you put your feeder in a place where you can see it from a window, then you can stay warm and dry while watching the birds from inside. Cardinals especially will fly off if the sense any type of perceived danger. You will likely see more birds if you stay indoors. Cardinals feed almost entirely on seeds, and to a much lesser extent they will eat insects. In the winter when they cannot find any insects they need seeds.


Cardinals are a medium sized songbird that is about 8.75 inches in length, with short rounded wings, a long tail, a heavy orange cone shaped bill, and a black crest or mask. The males are brilliant red with reddish-gray wings and back feathers. The back and wings are less colorful than it's chest, face, and head. Both male and female Cardinals have a tuft on the top of their heads. The female is a duller brownish-red.

To find out more about Cardinals check out these:

Wild Birds Unlimited,  http://www.wbu.com/education/cardinals.html


Cornell Lab of Ornithology (very good site) http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id