Northern Cardinal (Redbird)

A striking bright red contour feather from the vibrant Northern Cardinal. The male Northern Cardinal is celebrated for its brilliant red plumage, prominent crest, and contrasting black face mask, making it one of the most recognizable and beloved backyard birds in North America.

Vibrant, solid rosy-red to brilliant crimson coloration driven by carotenoid pigments, uniform across the pennaceous web without banding or markings.

Pennaceous at the distal tip transitioning smoothly into plumulaceous downy barbs at the base with an evident afterfeather (aftershaft). Barbs are intact and flexible.

Slender, flexible central rachis matching the red tone near the base and fading to a lighter brownish-pink toward the tip. Barbs are tightly set at a moderate angle.

Soft, silky texture with a matte appearance, typical of passerine contour feathers.

Body feather, likely from the breast, crest base, or upper mantle, determined by the rich coloration and combination of pennaceous vane and fluffy base.

Brilliant, unbroken crimson-red coloration, soft texture, small size, and presence of a distinct downy aftershaft at the base.

Woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and forest edges, often associated with dense brush and suburban areas.

Resident across the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada, and parts of Mexico, expanding westward.

Acts as an important seed disperser and insect predator in its ecosystem, serving as a familiar ecological indicator for healthy suburban and woodland edges.

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), which lacks the crest and has slightly different wing/body feather textures, and Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), which has grayish edges.

Cardinals are fiercely territorial; males will aggressively attack their own reflections in mirrors or windows, mistaking them for rival males.

The Northern Cardinal is the official state bird of seven US states (more than any other species). Its bright feathers have historically inspired folklore and decorative uses.

Look near backyard bird feeders, dense shrubbery, and brush piles where cardinals frequently forage and preen.

Good condition, fresh appearance with intact barbs and no major signs of wear or fading.