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.