Northern Cardinals: A Vibrant and Vital Part of the Ecosystem

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is one of North America’s most recognizable and beloved birds. With their striking red plumage, clear whistled songs, and year-round presence, cardinals are a favorite for birdwatchers and backyard gardeners alike. But beyond their beauty, Northern Cardinals play a significant role in their local ecosystems.

What Do Cardinals Look Like?

Male Northern Cardinals are famous for their vivid red feathers, black face masks, and crested heads. Females, while more subdued in tan and brown hues, still feature tinges of red on the wings and tail and share the same distinctive crest.

Habitat and Range

Cardinals are non-migratory birds that live across the eastern and central United States, extending into Mexico and parts of Central America. They thrive in woodland edges, thickets, suburban gardens, and parks—especially where there is dense shrubbery or low trees for nesting.

Diet and Feeding Habits

Northern Cardinals have a varied diet that primarily consists of seeds and fruits, but they also supplement it with insects—especially during breeding season, when protein-rich insects are essential for feeding their young.

Some of their favorite plant foods include the seeds and fruits of dogwood, wild grape, blackberry, buckwheat, mulberry, sumac, hackberry, tulip-tree, and even corn. At backyard feeders, cardinals are particularly fond of black oil sunflower seeds, which are easy for them to crack open with their strong beaks.

In addition to plant material, they consume a wide variety of invertebrates, such as beetles, crickets, katydids, leafhoppers, cicadas, flies, centipedes, spiders, butterflies, and moths. These insects are an especially important food source for growing nestlings, providing the nutrients needed for healthy development.

Role in the Ecosystem

Northern Cardinals contribute to biodiversity and the balance of their ecosystems in several ways:

• Seed Dispersal: By consuming fruits and berries, they help disperse seeds, supporting native plant regeneration.
• Insect Control: Cardinals consume a variety of insects, especially during nesting season when feeding young.
• Food Source: They are prey for hawks, owls, snakes, and larger mammals, making them an integral part of the food chain.

Mating and Nesting Behavior

Northern Cardinals are largely monogamous and often form lifelong pair bonds. Most cardinal pairs stay together year after year, only separating if one of the birds dies. Their strong partnership is evident in how they interact—traveling together, singing duets, and even feeding one another.

During courtship, males offer food to females by picking up seeds and gently passing them beak-to-beak. This bonding behavior continues after mating, as the male supports the female during the nesting period. While she builds the nest—typically in dense shrubs or low branches—the male helps by bringing materials. Once she begins incubating the eggs, he takes on the role of provider, delivering food to ensure she has the energy needed for incubation.

This shared investment in nesting and rearing helps cardinals successfully raise their young and strengthens the pair’s lifelong bond.

How to Attract Cardinals to Your Yard

• Plant native shrubs like dogwood, serviceberry, or elderberry that provide food and shelter.
• Offer sunflower seeds in feeders with perches large enough for their size.
• Provide fresh water year-round with a birdbath or shallow dish.
• Avoid pesticides to ensure a healthy insect population for them and their young.

Why Native Gardens Help Cardinals

Native plants are crucial for providing the habitat and food sources that cardinals—and many other birds—depend on. By planting native, you support the insects cardinals feed on and offer shelter and nesting opportunities that ornamental or exotic plants often lack.

Conservation

The Northern Cardinal is a conservation success story. Unlike many bird species facing population declines, cardinals have benefited from human-altered landscapes such as agricultural fields, suburban neighborhoods, and backyard gardens. These environments often provide abundant food sources and nesting sites, helping their populations thrive.

According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, Northern Cardinal numbers have grown steadily—by about 0.32% per year since 1966. Partners in Flight estimates their global breeding population at 130 million, and gives them a Continental Concern Score of 5 out of 20, which reflects a species of low conservation concern.

Their adaptability and wide range make them one of the most common and beloved songbirds in eastern and central North America.