Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 316,793 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Northern Cardinal: observations by month (U.S.)

About Northern Cardinal

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis; it is also known colloquially as the redbird or common cardinal. It can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico. Its habitat includes woodlands, gardens, shrublands, wetlands.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Northern Cardinal by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)

Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea

Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus

Summer TanagerPiranga rubra

Painted BuntingPasserina ciris

Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus

Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana

Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea

Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ