TULIPMANEFIELD GUIDE
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BIRD INDEX

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Northern Cardinal
Photograph attribution and license appear in photo credits.

Start with these clues

Look for a crest and a deep orange-red bill; females are mostly brown.

Relative size
Small
Look around
Shrubs, Trees
Region and season
Mostly central and eastern, extending into parts of the Southwest.

Compare carefully

House Finch lacks the prominent crest.

A photograph shows one individual and one view. Check several features, the date and a regional guide before settling on an identification.

Record an observationBack to the index

Read the Audubon species account for fuller range, behavior and identification context.

Compare plumage

Tan female cardinal on the left and red male on the right
Female and male together

The female’s body is tan, but both birds have a crest and a thick orange-red bill.

patricia pierce · CC BY 2.0
Red male Northern Cardinal perched on a branch
Adult male

Look for the red crest, dark face and deep, cone-shaped bill.

Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0