Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 7.75 inches
• Large, conical bill
• Crest
• Long tail

Adult male:

• Bright red plumage, dullest on back and wings
• Black around base of bill
• Red bill

Adult female:

• Reddish crest, wings and tail
• Brownish-gray upperparts
• Buffy underparts
• Red bill
• Juvenile like adult female but has dark bill and crest

Similar species:

The male Northern Cardinal is unmistakeable. Females and juveniles are similar to Pyrrhuloxia but Pyrrhuloxia has a yellow bill with a curved culmen and is grayer, less brown.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.