If you were to step outside and sit on your porch for a spell, you’d probably see all sorts of different birds flitting through the sky, landing on nearby branches, and hopping around on the ground looking for a snack. Chances are, you don’t give these birds a second passing thought. You’re so used to seeing them around, why would you? But when you really stop and consider it, these birds are pretty special.

Cities don’t have a whole lot of wildlife. Only a handful of animals have been able to make a life living alongside us. In town, you might see raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and possibly even foxes and deer, depending on the kind of city you live in and how close you are to the edge of town. But in cities around the world, you will definitely see birds.

Here’s a surprising figure: about 20% of the world’s species of birds live in cities. [1] Three birds, in particular, rock pigeons, house sparrows, and European starlings, are found in over 80% of cities around the world! [1] These birds have thrived alongside humanity where other species have had to flee. And while those birds are special in their own way, the Northern Cardinal is something else entirely.

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Identifying Northern Cardinals

Northern Cardinals aren’t all that difficult to pick out of a lineup of different birds. Their iconic “mohawk” of feathers on their heads is iconic. But Northern Cardinals vary a bit in appearance based on sex. [2] Male Northern Cardinals are covered in bright red plumage with a black mask over the face. [2]

Female Northern Cardinals are a little blander in appearance, with pale brown or tan feathers and a bit of red in the wings, tail, and crest. Like the males, they have a black mask on the face. Their bill tends to be darker and a bit shorter than males. Young Northern Cardinals look similar to females, but males take on their bright red plumage after their first molt in the fall. [2]

Mating

Northern Cardinals don’t migrate south during the winter which makes them an ideal bellwether bird for determining the approach of spring. During February and March, you’ll begin to hear cardinals making their mating song, a sign that it’s time to ready a new generation of young. [3] The males begin getting a bit more aggressive during this time. Periodically, you may see them attacking themselves in a mirror, believing the other bird to be a competing male.

Northern Cardinals in courtship are truly romantic. One thing you’ll notice two courting cardinals do is feed each other beak-to-beak. It’s a sweet display of affection. Males will also bring food offerings to females. Some cardinals mate for life, while others choose a new partner each season.

Nesting

Getting Northern Cardinals to nest near your home and in your yard isn’t difficult, but it does take a little bit of work. Generally, cardinals will avoid traditional birdhouses. Instead, they like to nest in very dense thickets. Grapevines, clematis, dogwood, and hawthorn all make great nesting habitats for cardinals. But any dense shrubs will entice a couple of Northern Cardinals to nest.

When it comes to picking a nesting site, the female is in charge. [4] She will determine the right place to build a nest. It can take up to two weeks to find the right spot. All the while, the male follows her from potential site to potential site, calling to one another as they go. The nest she’ll build is around 4 inches wide and 2-4 inches tall. She’ll build it out of twigs, leaves, bark, and grass. Males will sometimes help find nesting materials.

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Hatching their eggs

Once the nest is built and the female cardinal is content with her nest’s design, she will lay between two and five small eggs.[4] They range from light gray to yellowish and are about an inch in length. The eggs are incubated by the female alone for 11 to 13 days. While she sits on the eggs, the male defends the nesting area from any intruders that may do harm to the nesting mother and incubating chicks.

Once hatched, the cardinal chicks are completely helpless. They are born naked, featherless, blind, and without any way to defend themselves or flee from predators. The chicks will stay in the nest for between 7 and 13 days. When the chicks leave the nest during a period called their ‘fledgling stage,’ the parents will continue to feed them while they learn to fly and find food for themselves. Once the chicks have matured, the parents move on and begin the process over again. They will do this up to three times each year.

How to attract Northern Cardinals

Northern Cardinals are stunning, dynamic, and beautiful birds. It’s no wonder you’d want them to call your yard home! Attracting them to your backyard isn’t difficult, but they do like very specific things.

For shelter, they enjoy thick, native trees and shrubs like sugar maples, hawthorn, and dogwood. These trees will also attract other species of bird to your yard.

Putting out food specifically for cardinals is also a great way to bring them to your property. Cardinals love to eat mealworms, safflower seed, and sunflower chips. [5] A water source is also helpful. Cardinals, and all birds, need a consistent source of fresh, clean water to stay hydrated and to bathe in.

Happy bird watching!

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