Northern Cardinal (Redbird)

The Northern Cardinal is a familiar and beloved songbird known for its striking red plumage in males and warm brownish-red tones in females. Possessing a distinctive crest and a stout, cone-shaped red bill specialized for cracking seeds, it is a frequent visitor to backyard bird feeders. They are non-migratory, maintaining their territories year-round, and are celebrated for their rich, whistling songs.

Vibrant, solid rosy-red to brilliant crimson coloration driven by carotenoid pigments, uniform along the pennaceous section with a lighter, grayish-white base at the calamus

Pennaceous at the tip transitioning to plumulaceous (fluffy downy structure) at the base, intact barbs with microscopic barbicels, no aftershaft

Thin, flexible, central dark-pink to reddish-black rachis that tapers smoothly; fine barbs branch out at a uniform angle with high density

Soft, silky, and somewhat loose texture, matte finish, lacking oiliness, typical of passerine contour feathers

Breast or crest, likely from the bright red ventral contour region due to the vivid coloration

Vivid crimson-red color, soft contour structure with a fluffy base, small size around two inches, and absence of harsh barring or striping

Woodlands, gardens, shrublands, swamp edges, and suburban areas with dense thickets and brush

Resident across the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada, and down through Mexico and parts of Central America

Acts as an important seed disperser and insect predator in forest edge and suburban ecosystems, serving as a popular indicator species for healthy wooded backyards

Pyrrhuloxia (Desert Cardinal), which has a more grayish body and a yellow-tinted bill, though their body feathers can be very similar in texture and pinkish-red tones

Cardinals are fiercely territorial; males will aggressively attack their own reflections in mirrors or windows, mistaking them for rival males. Their bright red color comes entirely from the pigments in the foods they eat, such as berries and seeds containing carotenoids.

The Northern Cardinal is the official state bird of seven US states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, making it the most popular state bird. Historically featured in folklore and winter holiday imagery.

Look near dense brush, backyard bird feeders, and low roosting sites in late summer and autumn during the annual molt period

Good condition with intact barbs and minimal wear, typical of a healthy recently molted adult contour feather