North Carolina Cardinal Facts

The cardinal, the state bird of North Carolina, is often referred to as the Winter Redbird because it's the only red bird present in the winter. Cardinals are commonly recognized as a beautiful song bird. The scientific name for the cardinal is Cardinalis cardinalis, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Cardinals grow up to 8.75 inches in length, according to Cornell University. They have short, rounded wings and a long tail.

  1. Considerations

    • The cardinal is one of the most commonly found birds in North Carolina, according to the State Library of North Carolina. Cardinals build a nest consisting of weed stems, grass and small twigs. Cardinals typically lay three eggs in states as far south as North Carolina and four eggs in states farther north. After eggs are laid, they hatch in approximately two weeks, according to the Chipper Woods Bird Observatory. Up to 70 cardinals can be found traveling together in a single flock, according to Cornell University.

    Characteristics

    • The male cardinal has a body that's entirely red, according to the State Library of North Carolina. Female cardinals have a duller color with red coloring only on their crest, wings and tail. Females have duller color because it allows them to blend in more with their natural surroundings when protecting her eggs which helps avoid predators. Cardinals have nine primary feathers, according to the Chipper Woods Bird Observatory. These feathers are replaced each year. Cardinals have a black mask around the base of their bill, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

    History

    • Thousands of cardinals were trapped and kept as pets in the 1800s because of their beautiful song and color, according to Cornell University. Some of these birds were sent to Northern states, while thousands of others were sent to Europe. These practices ceased after the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

    Habitat &Diet

    • Cardinals commonly live in thickets, riparian woodlands, parks, residential areas and brushy areas, according to Cornell University. Cardinals eat seeds, leaf buds, flowers, berries and other types of fruit. During the summer, approximately one- third of the cardinal's diet is insects. During the winter, 90 percent of the cardinal's diet is vegetable matter like seeds.

    Outlook

    • Cardinals are found mainly on the East Coast of the United States, but have been found moving north and southwest during the 20th century, according to Wild Birds Forever. The cardinal has also been introduced to Hawaii.