The Cardinal's Nest

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Where Do Baby Cardinals Come From?

Every bird-watcher and most children recognize the male Northern Cardinal, a Christmas symbol, but many people know nothing about its nesting and courtship habits. Through the years, we have been able to observe and photograph most of the mating behavior of our beautiful Northern Cardinal. This lens should give you some insight into what happens in a Cardinal's nest and also into how to attract this lovely bird into your own backyard. Lists of good adult and children's books about Cardinals are also provided.

Description and Habits 

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) were called "Redbirds" where I grew up. It is also known as the Virginia nightingale. It is a Christmas symbol and ranges (in the north) from southern Canada and south to northern Guatemala and Belize. It inhabits forest edges, thickets, gardens, backyards, shrubby areas and orchards.

The bright red male Cardinal is so beautiful and has such a lovely song that it was once trapped and sold as a caged song bird. This practice stopped when its sale as a cage bird was banned in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Listen to the Song of the Northern Cardinal from the National Park Service

The male's crest, black mask and bright orange beak set him apart from other birds. The more demure females are not as colorful, but are beautiful in their own right with their feathers of tan, brown and touches of red. Their beaks are also orange. Young birds have dark beaks until their first molt. Cardinals are medium sized birds measuring 8.3 to 9 inches.

Male Cardinal Singing 

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A Photo Journal of Nesting Cardinals 

Males are territorial during the breeding season and can be seen and heard singing from a prominent spot in their territory.

During courtship, the male feeds seed to the female. She will often flutter her wings and beg like a chick.


 

After the courtship is over, the female builds a nest of twigs, vines, some leaves, bark strips, grasses, weed stalks, rootlets and lined with fine grasses in a thorny bush, thicket, bramble or in a dense shrub or tree. Three to four eggs (somewhat glossy, grayish, bluish, greenish white and spotted or blotched with browns, grays, or purples) are laid. The female may delay egg laying as long as 6 days after nest completion. There are normally two to three broods each year. The female incubates the eggs for 11-13 days.


When they hatch out, the chicks are blind, helpless and have a little fuzz covering their bodies, but they grow quickly.

  

The chicks fledge in 7-13 days, but the male continues to feed the fledglings while the female builds a second nest.

The male Cardinal continues to feed the young even after they have grown almost as large as he is. This male was caring for a young female and a young male. The young male was already beginning to moult into his adult plumage.

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This year the Northern Cardinals have had many successful nests, so there are several immature ones at each sunflower seed feeder. Several of the pairs are on their third brood. You can tell when Cardinals are on their last brood when you see both the adult male and the female feeding the young. On the first and second broods, the male feeds the fledglings while the female builds the nest, lays and incubates the eggs and feeds the young while they are in the nest.

Guide to Eastern Birds' Nests 

This book has helped us identify many birds' nests that we have found in our nest boxes and in shrubs and trees on our property. The pictures and descriptions are excellent.

Peterson Field Guide: Eastern Birds' Nests

Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 11/24/2009)Buy Now

Post Breeding Activities 

During summer and fall the young birds go through their first molt. The male and female colors (however mottled) begin to show and the dark beaks begin to turn orange.

After the breeding season is over and the last of the young are able to feed themselves, the adults look a little ragged. They begin their fall moult and by winter have a new set of feathers so that they will be well insulated against the cold weather.

Winter Cardinals are bright, crisp and fresh looking. The male's beautiful colors help him establish a good territory in order to attract a prospective mate. In early Spring the whole cycle begins again.

Attracting Cardinals 

Habitat - Shelter and Nesting Sites
Cardinals prefer shrubs and brambles. They love evergreen trees and these are especially good in winter to provide shelter from the cold. Besides being good for the birds, evergreens planted on the north side of your house will help save energy and lower your monthly bill.

Food Plants that Cardinals use include: Maple, devil's walking stick, paper mulberry, French mulberry, ironwood, bitter-sweet, hackberry, fringe tree, camphor tree, flowering dogwood, hawthorn, gumi, fatsia, common fig, ash, huckleberry, sunflower, firebush, lantana, privet, sweet gum, Southern magnolia, red mulberry, American hop hornbeam, poke-berry, pine, black cherry, pyracantha, sumac, rose, blackberry and dewberry.

Cardinal on Suet

Bird Feeders for Cardinals 

A Cardinal's diet consists mainly of grain, but they also eat insects and fruit. Cardinals will readily eat from sunflower seed and suet feeders. They prefer platform type feeders, but will use hanging feeders that have large, sturdy perches.

More About Planting for Birds 

Water Features 

Water
Every creature needs a water source. Cardinals will use standard bird baths, but they seem to like water on the ground more. They love sprinklers and misters.

Mother Cardinal Building Video 

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The Importance of Keeping Cats Inside 

Over 25 years ago, when we were young and foolish, we used to let our black cat, Zee, come in and out as he pleased. One night we heard a commotion outside our bedroom window and rushed out to find Zee Cat with a Mother Cardinal in his mouth.

The nest was very low in the shrubs right by the window. There was one baby in the nest so we brought it inside and kept it warm and safe.


At that time, rehabilitators were few and hard to find. So since we had experience with hand raising cockatiels and canaries and we had everything on hand, we decided to raise the little guy ourselves.

He grew quickly and soon began to show the mottled feathers of a young male. But we had to teach him how to open sunflower seeds like his bird parents would have.

When he had moulted into most of his adult plumage, we released him into the backyard. He stayed around for a while, then went off to establish his own territory.

Ever since that incident, we have kept our cats inside during the breeding season and we only let them out on supervised excursions at other times of the year.

Cardinals to Wear and Enjoy 

Red Cardinal Postcards (Package of 8)

Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.

Price: 7.99Buy Now

Red Cardinal White T-Shirt

Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.

Price: 17.99Buy Now

Red Cardinal Teddy Bear

Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.

Price: 14.99Buy Now

Red Cardinal BBQ Apron

Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.

Price: 18.99Buy Now

Red Cardinal Denim Shirt

Bright red male Northern Cardinal decorate apparel, mugs, buttons, stickers, magnets and cards. Great gifts for bird lovers.

Price: 33.99Buy Now

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More Cardinals to Wear and Enjoy 

To see more designs, please visit our Naturally Native Creations Zazzle Gallery.

Cardinal Keds 

Cardinal Designs by Naturally Native Creations

Cardinal Keds Shoe kedsshoe Red Cardinal Keds Shoe kedsshoe

Father Cardinal Feeding YouTube video 

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Birds in Winter 

Cardinal in Holly Card and Postage 

Cardinal in Holly Card card Cardinal in Holly Postage stamp

Cardinal in Holly Card and Postage Designs by Naturally Native

Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior 

A very good book about the lives and behaviors of birds. This guide is a good companion to the Sibley Guide to Birds.

The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 11/24/2009)Buy Now

Northern Cardinal Books for Adults 

Vote for your favorite or add your own to the list.

Tanagers, Cardinals, and Finches of the United States and Canada: The Photographic Guide by David Beadle, James D. Rising

Tanagers, Cardinals, and Finches of the United States and Canada: The Photographic Guide by David Beadle, James D. Rising

This is the first comprehensive photographic ident more...0 points

The Cardinal (Corrie Herring Hooks Series) by June Osborne

The Cardinal (Corrie Herring Hooks Series) by June Osborne

In this inviting guide, June Osborne and Barbara G more...0 points

The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-to-Z Guide To Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, And Treats (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) by Sally Roth

The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-to-Z Guide To Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, And Treats (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) by Sally Roth

Become the best bird host in your neighborhood. Le more...0 points

Children's Cardinal Books 

Vote for your favorite or add your own to the list.

Christmas Eve Blizzard by Andrea Vlahakis

Christmas Eve Blizzard by Andrea Vlahakis

Christmas Eve Blizzard is the tender story of a be more...0 points

Cardinals (Naturebooks) by Patrick Merrick

Cardinals (Naturebooks) by Patrick Merrick

This book describes the physical characteristics, more...0 points

A Cardinal in the Snow by Jimmy Bunker Smith, Jim Carpenter, Jacqueline Grabis-Bunker, Brenda J. Smith

A Cardinal in the Snow by Jimmy Bunker Smith, Jim Carpenter, Jacqueline Grabis-Bunker, Brenda J. Smith

When a little girl discovers a Cardinal in her bac more...0 points

Stokes Beginner's Guide to Bird Feeding (Stokes Beginner's Guide) by Donald Stokes, Lillian Stokes

Stokes Beginner's Guide to Bird Feeding (Stokes Beginner's Guide) by Donald Stokes, Lillian Stokes

The Stokes Beginners Guides, intended for beginnin more...0 points

Children's Song - Little Redbird 

Folk Song From Georgia


Buy Cardinal Cross Stitch Sticker by naturegirl7



Little redbird in the tree, In the tree, in the tree,
Little redbird in the tree, Sing a song to me.
Sing about the roses, on the garden wall;
Sing about the birdies, In the tree top tall.

Little redbird in the tree, In the tree, in the tree,
Little redbird in the tree, Sing a song to me.
Sing about the farmer, Planting corn and beans;
Sing about the harvest, I know what that means.

Little redbird in the tree, In the tree, in the tree,
Little redbird in the tree, Sing a song to me.
Sing about the mountains, Sing about the sea,
Sing about the rainbow, Is there one for me?


Reference: Growing with Music 2 by Wilson, Ehret, Snyder, Hermann and Renna, Prentice-Hall, 1966.

Cardinals for the Children's Corner 

Vote for your favorite Children's product or add your own.

Wildlife / Domestic Animals : Northern Cardinal Bird with Sound 6

Wildlife / Domestic Animals : Northern Cardinal Bird with Sound 6" Plush Stuffed Animal Toy

Each bird is carefully researched, and comes with more...1 point

Breezy Singer Cardinal

Breezy Singer Cardinal

This bird will enlighten, amuse, educate and fasci more...0 points

Bird-Opoly Garden Bird Monopoly Board Game featuring; Loon, Gold Finch, Reuby-Throated Hummingbird, California Condor, White Pelica, Swan, Flamingo, Wiood Stork, Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Great Horned Owl, Pigeons, DOves, Mallard Duck Red Tailed Hawk, Per

Bird-Opoly Garden Bird Monopoly Board Game featuring; Loon, Gold Finch, Reuby-Throated Hummingbird, California Condor, White Pelica, Swan, Flamingo, Wiood Stork, Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Great Horned Owl, Pigeons, DOves, Mallard Duck Red Tailed Hawk, Per

BIRD-OPOLY is a game based on our fabulous feather more...0 points

Audubon Northern Cardinal Jigsaw Puzzle 513pc

Audubon Northern Cardinal Jigsaw Puzzle 513pc

Part of the Buffalo Games Collectibles series, thi more...0 points

Spring Quartet 500 Pcs

Spring Quartet 500 Pcs

Art by Malcolm Watson, 500+ Pieces, Size: 19" more...0 points

Cardinal Pincher with Sound

Cardinal Pincher with Sound

The handle of this Pincher triggers flapping wings more...0 points

Cardinal and Magnolia

Cardinal and Magnolia

Cardinal and Magnolia. 4 watt bulb lasts 3000 hour more...0 points

Best of Naturally Native Squids Blog 

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Cardinals for Decoration and Enjoyment 

Birds - Cardinal Bird - Light Switch Covers - double toggle switch

Birds - Cardinal Bird - Light Switch Covers - double toggle switch

Cardinal Bird Light Switch Cover is new and handcr more...0 points

Birds - Cardinal Bird - Light Switch Covers - single toggle switch

Birds - Cardinal Bird - Light Switch Covers - single toggle switch

Cardinal Bird Light Switch Cover is new and handcr more...0 points

Holiday Winter Cardinal Paper Napkins - 192 Cnt.

Holiday Winter Cardinal Paper Napkins - 192 Cnt.

These napkins measure out to be about 12" x 1 more...0 points

Old World Christmas Ornament Cardinal on a Branch Bird Ornament

Old World Christmas Ornament Cardinal on a Branch Bird Ornament

Hand Blown Glass Cardinal is hand painted and then more...0 points

Cardinal & Sunflower Stake Feeder

Cardinal & Sunflower Stake Feeder

Cardinal & Sunflower Stake Feeder (must order more...0 points

Droll Yankee DCF Dorothys Cardinal Feeder

Droll Yankee DCF Dorothys Cardinal Feeder

Dorothy's Cardinal Feeder This is a versatile plat more...0 points

Northern Cardinal Blog Posts from Google 

Cardinal Pagan Bird Symbol of Renewed Vitality: Winged Power ...
Seeing a cardinal brings cheer on damp winter days which make it the Christmas bird. An Ojibwa legend tells how Red Bird got his colors.
maya*made: vintage birds and my new cardinal
Did I need a little inspiration for more bird carving? No, but these images certainly motivated me to put everything aside and return to my flock. I had been wanting to carve a cardinal ever since I drew this silhouette last year. ...
Southern Lagniappe: A Nature Lesson: Battle of the Birds
We spent the weekend at my parents' house in West Monroe, Louisiana, and their yard is virtually a sanctuary for all kinds of birds ... from doves and woodpeckers to cardinals and sparrows. There is a feeder right outside one of their ...
Some birds -- mostly the usual suspects (9 imgs) - Steve's ...
Yesterday a female Hairy Woodpecker showed up. I have had lots of Downey's. My first Cardinal since late August came yesterday as well. It seems that the birds are around as I hear them but they are not frequenting the feeder. ...

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by naturegirl7

My husband and I have always loved nature and the outdoors. We currently maintain a 9 acre private wildlife preserve.





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