Northern Cardinals, Cardinalis are familiar sights and can be heard singing and chirping in yards, parks, wooded areas, and shrubby forest edges. You will often see them in pairs on or near the ground eating grass or weed seeds. They love insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, flies, spiders, centipedes, and snails. Small berries, grapes, and fruits are other favorites. They will seek out black sunflower seeds in birdfeeders.
The male’s brilliant red plumage is a welcome sight for humans and female cardinals. Females, who are pale brown with reddish-orange tinges of color are drawn to the males with the brightest color. Males are aggressive when defending their territory and attack other males who intrude. They nest in dense shrubs and vines and produce up to three broods of three to six eggs each season. The male cardinal, whose brilliant red color will fade after mating, is a wonderful parent who feeds his mate during and after incubation. The mother cardinal will sing from the nest to indicate when it is time to eat. Father cardinals will care for and protect the mother and babies until they leave the nest. You may find young cardinals following their parents on the ground as they learn to forage on their own.
