7.5 to 9.25 inches long. The Northern Cardinal is a medium sized bird with a large conical bill. The Cardinal has a crest and a long tail. The male has bright red plumage that is dullest on the back and the wings. The red bill has black around its base. In late winter/early spring the back and neck feathers develop gray tips that eventually wear off to show only red. The female has a reddish crest, wings, and tail. Overall she is brownish-gray. She also has a red bill. The immature birds look like a female except they have a dark bill and crest.
The Northern Cardinal is a very common year round resident and breeder.
The Northern Cardinal is named for the male’s red plumage. A year-round resident, the cardinal is a common visitor to bird feeders in winter, and it has been chosen as state bird in 7 U.S. states. It has taken advantage of moderate temperatures, human habitation, and bird feeders to expand its range northward since the early 1800s. Its diet consists of seeds, fruits and insects. Both male and female sing and there are many different songs but the most familiar is the “what cheer, what cheer, what cheer, birdy, birdy, birdy”.
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