1. Nest Building: Female cardinals construct cup-shaped nests from various materials like grass, twigs, leaves, and spiderwebs. They weave these materials together to create a well-insulated and secure container for their eggs and hatchlings.
2. Egg Laying and Incubation: After nest completion, the female lays about 2–4 bluish-green or greenish-gray eggs with brown or black splotches. She then incubates the eggs continuously, rarely leaving the nest, while the male cardinal remains nearby, feeding and protecting her.
3. Hatching: Cardinals are altricial species, meaning their hatchlings are born helpless and rely heavily on their parents. After about 12–13 days of incubation, the eggs hatch, and the helpless chicks emerge. The male cardinal plays an essential role by providing the mother and hatchlings with a constant supply of food.
4. Nestling Care: Both male and female cardinals actively participate in caring for the nestlings. They engage in:
- Brooding: The female stays with the hatchlings most of the time to provide warmth, protection, and comfort.
- Feeding: Both parents bring food to the nest and take turns feeding the chicks. Their diet consists of insects, fruits, and sometimes seeds. The parents regurgitate the food, allowing the hatchlings to swallow the partially digested sustenance.
Fledglings and Independence:
1. Leave the Nest: After about 10–12 days, the nestling cardinals start growing their feathers and are ready to leave the nest. However, they still depend on their parents for food.
2. Parental Care: The parents continue to provide food and care for the fledglings who stay in the vicinity of the nest. The fledglings also mimic their parents, learning how to find food, perch, and vocalize.
3. Independence: Cardinals generally fledge from the nest at sekitar 2 minggu but may remain in the family group for several weeks before becoming fully independent. As young cardinals mature, they become less dependent on their parents and eventually disperse to find their own territories.
Cardinal parents work together to provide their hatchlings with protection, warmth, and a steady food supply. They tirelessly take care of their young until they are ready to survive independently in the wild.