Male cardinals have bright red feathers.
Steve Byland/Flickr State/Getty Images
Female cardinals have the same crest on their heads as the red- feathered males.
Deanna Truesdale / EyeEm/Getty Images
These one-week-old baby cardinals are hungry. They wait for food with their mouths open.
Patrick D Kennedy/Getty Images
What does a cardinal look like?
The northern cardinal has a wingspan of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm).
The male is easy to spot because he is bright red and has a black face. The female cardinal has light brown feathers. They both have short beaks and pointy crests atop their heads.
The male is easy to spot because he is bright red and has a black face. The female cardinal has light brown feathers. They both have short beaks and pointy crests atop their heads.
Male cardinals have bright red feathers.
Steve Byland/Flickr State/Getty Images
Where do cardinals live?
Northern cardinals are mostly found in the eastern, central, and southern United States.
You can find cardinals in your backyard or at your local park.
Cardinals also live on the edge of forests. They like to build nests in shrubs and trees.
You can find cardinals in your backyard or at your local park.
Cardinals also live on the edge of forests. They like to build nests in shrubs and trees.
Female cardinals have the same crest on their heads as
the red- feathered males.
Deanna Truesdale / EyeEm/Getty Images
What do cardinals eat?
Cardinals are not picky eaters. They eat seeds, insects, flowers, berries, and grass.
They can be spotted eating sunflower seeds out of backyard bird feeders, too!
They can be spotted eating sunflower seeds out of backyard bird feeders, too!
These one-week-old baby cardinals are hungry. They wait
for food with their mouths open.
Patrick D Kennedy/Getty Images
Fun facts about cardinals
The Northern cardinal is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Cardinals are songbirds. Some people think the cardinal sounds like it's singing, “birdie, birdie, birdie!”
Cardinals are songbirds. Some people think the cardinal sounds like it's singing, “birdie, birdie, birdie!”
Article Citation in MLA (Modern Language Association) Ninth Edition format:
"Cardinals." Report Builder, Gareth Stevens Publishing, garethreportbuilder.com/article/243/cardinals. Accessed 5 Feb 2025.
