By Tony Gazso, Interpretive Naturalist

The Northern cardinal is easily one of the most recognizable birds in northeast Ohio (it is our state bird after all!). They're known for the male's brilliant red plumage and black face mask. The female is plenty beautiful in her own right, sporting a tan body with red accents. They're a common visitor to backyard feeders as they eat a diet predominantly made up of seeds. They love a habitat that has a mix of dense tangles and open areas, something northeast Ohio has in abundance! 

Male Northern Cardinal

Typically, nesting begins in mid-April. The female takes care of all the incubation duties while the male brings her food and feeds and rears the chicks after hatching. Despite their seed-heavy diets, young are fed mostly insects by their father until they fledge (leave the nest). While the male takes care of the young, the female often starts incubating a second clutch of eggs. Cardinals typically lay two to three clutches a year, with two to five eggs in each. The cardinal is unique because they are one of only a few bird species in which both the male and female sing. The female often sings while sitting on the nest. It's thought that she may be communicating to the male when to bring her some food!

During nesting season, Northern cardinals cans be very territorial. They'll chase other birds off and even fight with themselves (or rather, a reflection of themselves). It's not uncommon to find a cardinal who has spotted itself in something shiny, like the reflection of a window or a shiny car bumper or hubcap. They can spend hours fighting their reflection, as they are dedicated to protecting their families from predators. 

Female Northern Cardinal

The Northern cardinal is a permanent resident of northeast Ohio and can be seen (and heard) year-round! If you're looking to attract some to your backyard, try putting out a feeder with black oil sunflower seeds. Chances are this will bring cardinals to your neighborhood if they aren't there already!