There are an estimated 100 million cardinals in the world. The young cardinals can leave the nest about 9-11 days after hatching.įemale cardinals lay eggs two or three times each year, sometimes four. Both parents help feed the young cardinals. There are usually 3-4 eggs, although there are sometimes two or even five.Īfter 12-13 days, the eggs hatch. While the female cardinal incubates the eggs (sits on them), the male cardinal feeds her. Once a male and female cardinal pair up, they stay together for life. However, they do pair off when it’s time to lay eggs. Cardinals have many different songs and calls.Ĭardinals are social and gather in flocks, sometimes even flocks that include birds of other species. The song of female cardinals appears to give males information about whether to bring food to the nest. Male cardinals sing to defend their nesting territory. Unlike other songbirds, both male and female cardinals sing. Young cardinals are fed mostly insects by their parents.
Their diet is mostly made up of plant matter such as leaf buds, flowers, seeds of weeds and grasses, and many wild fruits and berries. This may include grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, ants, flies, spiders, snails, and others. Unlike many other species of birds, cardinals do not migrate.Ĭardinals eat seeds, berries, and insects. They can also be found in parts of Mexico and Central America.Ĭardinals need dense bushes for nesting and may live in city parks, forest clearings, swamps, and other brushy habitats. There are few cardinals in the western United States, but some do live in the desert Southwest. In recent years they have expanded as far north as Canada. Males are bright red and females are pale brown with reddish wings, tails, and crests.Ĭardinals are mostly found in the Southeastern United States. However, there is one major difference between male and female cardinals. Both male and female cardinals have black faces around their bills. Their wingspan is typically 10 to 12 inches.Ĭardinals have a short, thick, red-orange bill and a crest (sometimes called a crown), which is a group of feathers on top of their heads. Both males and females are about eight to nine inches long and weigh about 1.5 ounces. It’s the mascot of several sports teams, the state bird of several states, and even makes an appearance in the Angry Birds movie!Ĭardinals are known for their brilliant color and beautiful songs, but there’s much more to learn about these scarlet songbirds. The bright red cardinal is a beloved bird.
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