365 Urban Species. #044: Northern Cardinal
photo by cottonmanifesto
Urban Species #044: Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
The first time a nesting pair of cardinals was observed in Massachusetts, was 1961. A male cardinal, vibrant red against the snow, is a wintertime icon, gracing everything from potholders to greeting cards. It spread north from its native range in the southeasst as the dense forests were broken up into farms and yards. It is now found from Ontario to Texas, and every place from there to the Atlantic (it is also found throughout Mexico.) Birdfeeders full of sunflower seeds lured the cardinal as well, and the popular bird continues to spread. It is the state bird in seven U.S. states, including Illinois. It was popular not only as a wild bird, but as a caged export to Europe, until the Migratory Bird Act Treaty made wild capture illegal.
Cardinals are omnivores, surviving on seeds opened with their heavy finchlike bill as well as invertebrate prey. Their preferred habitat contains shrubs adjacent to open areas, a perfect description of a typical suburban yard or city park.
Pictured is the male cardinal. Perhaps anais2 could comment with her female cardinal icon?
