Hear a story about the northern cardinal.
Hear a northern cardinal.

from The Birds of Texas
by John L. Tveten

Audubon wrote of the colorful cardinal: "In richness of plumage, elegance of motion, and strength of song, this species surpasses all its kindred in the United States." The familiar "redbird" occurs as a year-round resident throughout Texas, although it is less abundant and more local in West Texas and the Panhandle. It also ranges throughout the eastern half of the country, from southern Ontario to the Gulf of Mexico, and through the Southwest and Mexico. Once rare in the northern states, it has expanded its range during the 20th century, perhaps because of abundant food supplies at winter feeders.

The male northern cardinal is red with a heavy, conical reddish bill and a black face. No other all-red bird has a conspicuous crest. The female also displays the crest but is buffy brown with tinges of red on the head, wings and tail. The name, of course, comes from the color worn by the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. They, in turn, took their title from the Latin cardinalis meaning "important," or "that on which something depends," from cardo, or "hinge."

L-Female Cardinal, © TPWD, Photo by Bill Reeves

Cardinals in Texas nest two or even three times a year, and captive birds have lived as long as 22 years. The monogamous cardinals remain together throughout the year, and both sexes sing forcefully, especially as they establish their territory and before the females begins to nest. She incubates three or four spotted eggs, which hatch in 12 or 13 days. Both sexes feed the young that fledge about 10 or 11 days later. The male may also take over the care of the brood while his mate incubates a second clutch. The young consume primarily high-protein insects; adults eat seeds and berries as well. They can be found in woodlands and swamps, along edges of rivers and streams, and in suburban gardens.

Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia have chosen the northern cardinal as their official state bird.

Excerpts from The Birds of Texas by John L. Tveten with permission from Shearer Publishing, Inc.

More Bird Facts Northern cardinals are related to grosbeaks and buntings. These species have stout, conical bills for cracking seeds. Male cardinals, grosbeaks and buntings are very colorful. Juvenile male cardinals are brown overall and have a dark bill. The dark bill helps distinguish them from the female, whose bill is reddish colored. The cardinal's cousin--the Pyrrhuloxia--is mostly gray with tinges of red and has a yellow bill. The cardinal's song sounds like what-cheer cheer cheer.

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