| CARDINAL AT A GLANCE NAME: Cardinal, or
Cardinalis cardinalis. Named after red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. Virginia's
state bird.
COLORS: 8-9 inches. Male bright red with crest, black face, stout red bill. Female
buff-brown tinged with red on crest, wings and tail.
VOICE: Rich what-cheer, cheer, cheer; or sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet. Also metallic chip.
Both sexes like to sing.
CHARACTERISTICS: Aggressive birds that occupy territories year-round.
HABITAT: Everyday gardens, edges of woodlands, thickets.
NEST: Builds cup nests firmly attached to forms of small branches in thickets or vines
2-12 feet off ground.
RANGE: Nonmigratory, select year-round home range early in life, often near parents.
FOOD: Seeds and especially insects during breeding season. Likes winter feeding
stations, especially when offers unhulled sunflower seeds and safflower seeds,
PREFERRED PLANTS: Flowering dogwood, red and white mulberry, yaupon holly,
glossy-leaved viburnum, autumn olive, blueberries, linden viburnum and wild grapes.
Sources: Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Birds, Landscape Plants
that Attract Birds in Hampton Roads and How to Attract Birds by Ortho. |
