Species profile
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Quick answer
A crested songbird; males are brilliant red, females warm buff with red accents. Sings year-round.
- Scientific name
- Cardinalis cardinalis
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Genus
- Cardinalis
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
Habitat
Woodland edges, gardens, thickets
Recording Northern Cardinal in your journal
When you see this bird, log the sighting with the date, the place and any photos. If it's your first, Feather Journal marks it as a lifer and adds it to your life list automatically — no spreadsheet, no re-typing.
Want more detail? Read our full Northern Cardinal field guide.
Related species in Cardinalidae
- Amazonian Grosbeak, Rothschild's Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia rothschildii)
- Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris)
- Black-cheeked Ant-tanager (Habia atrimaxillaris)
- Black-faced Grosbeak (Caryothraustes poliogaster)
- Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Black-thighed Grosbeak (Pheucticus tibialis)
- Blue Bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina)
- Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)