Bird Directory

Northern Cardinal Click on picture to hear bird sounds.	Bird Name: Northern Cardinal
	Field Marks: The brightly colored Northern Cardinal is smaller than a robin. The male has bright red under parts, crest and cheeks while his top is a grayish-red. The female is buffy brown with a red crest on top. She has a black face, red bill and dusky red wings and tail.
	Feeder Food: Sunflower seeds, small seeds, raisins, apples, nuts, cracked corn
	Natural Food: Seeds, grains, berries, insects, insect larvae, fruit
	Behavior: The Northern Cardinal raises and lowers its crest to communicate. In this way it shows when its afraid, nervous, excited, resting, or about to attack. The Northern Cardinal sometimes raises as many as four broods a year. The cardinal doesn't migrate so you will see it year round. Song: wait, wait, wait, cheer, cheer, cheer or a short chirp

Pictures and sounds were reproduced by permission.

Sources:

Alden, Peter and Brian Cassie, National Audubon Society Field Guide To New England, New York: Alfred A.Knopf, 1998.

Dawe, Neil and Karen, The Bird Book, New York: Workman Publishing, 1988.

Elliott, Lang, Know Your Bird Sounds (cassette), Minocqua, WI: NorthWord Press, Inc., 1994.

Forbush, Edward Howe, Birds of Massachusetts, Norwood, Massachusetts: Norwood Press, 1929.

Reed, Chester R., Bird Guide: Land Birds East of the Rockies, Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1951.

Return to Bird Directory Main Page.

Return to Index Page.