Bird Spotlight-Northern Cardinal
Volume #3 In a Series
This is probably the most easily recognized bird. This is the bird that most often will inspire people to become bird watchers and/or set up feeders in the yard. They are angels from heaven so they say.
These birds are simply stunning. Seeing these birds at your feeders is a thrill. I was lucky enough to have them nest in the yard last summer. Photos of juvenile Cardinals are below.
The Northern Cardinal does not migrate, therefore we are lucky to be able to observe them year round. They are present in much of the US except for mid western and western states.
Cardinals eat fruit and seeds, and are easily attracted to feeders by a common bird food mix. They like to forage on the ground, but also will eat from feeders if they are not busy, and can photographed if you are patient. Patience, of course, is key to all bird photography,
Their nests can be 1 to 15 feet off the ground are are normally hidden in dense foliage. Nests can be located in many different types of trees and vines. As I mentioned, we were surprised to see juvenile Cardinals at our feeder in late Summer and Fall. I normally don’t feed birds after mid to late May. Project FeederWatch typically ends in early April. However, I continue to put a little food on just my platform feeder through mid to late May to monitor migrating species.
Some years I attract some interesting migrating birds such as the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak in May and early June.
Interesting Facts
The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of 7 states.
The female Northern Cardinal is one of few female songbirds that sing.
Come Join My New Publication:
