What mating habits do cardinals have?

Cardinals are sexually monogamous, meaning they typically mate with one partner for life. The breeding season for cardinals typically begins in March and lasts until August, and they can raise up to three broods of chicks during this time.

During courtship, the male cardinal will sing to the female, displaying his bright red feathers. The female cardinal will choose a mate based on his song and appearance, and the pair will then build a nest together.

The nest is typically built in a tree or shrub, and is made of twigs, grasses, and leaves. The female cardinal will lay two to five eggs, which are incubated by both parents. The eggs hatch after approximately 12 days, and the chicks are fed by both parents until they are able to fly on their own.

Polygamy

Although cardinals are typically monogamous, there are some cases of polygamy, where a male cardinal will mate with more than one female. This is most likely to occur when there is a shortage of available females, or when a male cardinal is particularly dominant.

Extra-pair copulations

In addition to polygamy, cardinals may also engage in extra-pair copulations, where they mate with a bird that is not their primary partner. This is thought to occur for a variety of reasons, including increasing genetic diversity and increasing the chances of producing offspring.

Migration

Cardinals are typically resident birds, meaning that they do not migrate long distances. However, some cardinals may migrate short distances to find food or nesting sites.