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Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata · Tanagers and Allies

Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
(c) GUSTAVO PASCUAS, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by GUSTAVO PASCUAS · CC BY-NC · via iNaturalist

Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) is in the Tanagers and Allies family (Thraupidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,966 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.

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 Red-crested Cardinal: observations by month (U.S.)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

About Red-crested Cardinal

The red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata) is a songbird, the species belonging to the family of the tanagers (Thraupidae). Notwithstanding its similar name, this bird is not closely related to the true cardinal family (Cardinalidae).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Red-crested Cardinal by state

StateObservationsPeak monthMain season
Hawaii9,958JuneMay–Apr

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

Related birds (Tanagers and Allies)

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

When is the best time to photograph Red-crested Cardinal?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to April.
Where is Red-crested Cardinal most often seen?
The most observations come from Hawaii.