State Bird of Kentucky
The Northern Cardinal
The northern cardinal is the official name for the cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). It is also sometimes referred to as a redbird, despite the fact that only the male of the species bears the distinctively striking colors for which it is famous. The female has a reddish-tan tint that is less striking but no less lovely. Additionally, young cardinals have a reddish-tan color that develops into the full, deep red adult plumage in males over time. Cardinals got their name because the robes worn by a cardinal, a leader in the Roman Catholic church, reminded European settlers of the birds’ plumage.
Songbirds of middle size are called cardinals. From beak to tail, the adults are around eight inches long. Cardinals are year-round residents because they don’t move. These bright and adaptable creatures are most common in the Southeast of the United States, but household bird feeders have allowed them to spread further north and west. Year-round, both the males and females sing. To let the male know that she needs food, the female may sing from the nest. While looking for the ideal nesting locations, they also sing to one another.
The mating pair remains together during the breeding season and maybe for the rest of their lives. The female produces 3–4 eggs each time the pair breeds, which happens twice or three times throughout the season. Both the male and the female assist in caring for the young when the eggs hatch until they leave the nest about two weeks later.
Cardinals consume both plant and animal items, including seeds, nuts, berries, and insects. They are omnivores. In the wild, a northern cardinal has a 3-year lifespan on average.
