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Mostly Red
Northern Cardinal
Look for the black mask What to look for: all-red bird with a black mask, and a large red crest and bill
Where you'll find them: wide variety of habitats including backyards and parks; usually likes thick vegetation
Calls and songs: calls “whata-cheer-cheer-cheer” in spring; both male and female sing and give chip notes all year
On the move: short flights from cover to cover, often landing on the ground
What they eat: loves sunflower seeds and enjoys insects, fruit, peanuts and suet; visits seed feeders
Nest: cup of twigs and bark strips, often low in a tree
Eggs, chicks & childcare: 3–4 speckled bluish-white eggs; Mom and Dad share the incubating and feeding duties
Spends the winter: doesn’t migrate; gathers with other cardinals and moves around to find good sources of food
Stan's Cool Stuff: Cardinals are sunbathers! Sometimes they stretch out in the sun, spreading their wings and fanning their tails. They’re the first to arrive at feeders in the morning and the last to leave before dark. They are territorial and fight their own reflections in windows.
Real Quick
Size: 8-9"
Nest: cup
Feeder: tube or hopper
Range: year-round
