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Cardinal (Northern)

Cardinalis cardinalis

Range

Northern Cardinals are found in the eastern U.S. and southern Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico and west to Arizona and Southern California.

Habitat

They like to live in thickets, the edges of woodland, suburban gardens and at bird feeders.

Body Traits

Males are bright red bird with a crest on their head that they can make go up and down. They have a cone-shaped beak. Females are greenish red colored.

Habits

They visit bird feeders all winter. Males protect their territory and will fight other males. They will attack their own reflection in a window. Both males and females sing.

Diet

They eat seeds, grains, fruit and insects.

Reproduction

They nest from March to August, sometimes having as many as 3 nests of babies. These are made of small twigs and grass and built in a bush. The female lays 3-4 white to greenish eggs. They hatch in 12-13 days. After the babies hatch, the males take care of them so the female can start the next batch.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Cardinalis
Species: C. cardinalis

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