Think of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals football team and MLB’s St. The “Cardinals” are a popular name for sports team mascots. Interestingly, these non-migrating birds operate as a flock in the winter time to better forage and this is called a “Vatican of cardinals.” Why Are Sports Teams Named the Cardinals? The name “cardinal” reflects the birds’ bright red plumage which is the same red color of the clothing worn by cardinals of the Catholic clergy. Here’s a fun fact: Ever noticed that cardinals are often the last birds to visit the bird feeder in the evening? While their bright colors are good for mating, the birds are probably less visible to predators as the light dims, plus they avoid competition for food from bigger birds. See the Almanac’s chart of what different wild birds eat. As well as plant matter (seeds, berries and fruit), the birds also eat insects (29%)-such as beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, moths, flies, butterflies and crickets. That said, cardinals are not especially picky eaters. Their short, strong beaks are great seed and nut crackers! Due to their fondness for seeds, cardinals will often forage on the ground around feeders. What do Cardinals Eat?Ĭardinals particularly love seeds, especially black oil sunflower seeds. They’re now a common bird in brushy areas near adjoining woodlands, often located in suburban areas. It is believed that cardinals moved from the south of Ohio, then to southern Canada, then east to New England. ![]() ![]() It is not a bird of the forest and has advanced north following the clearing of forests, which provided tangles in shrubbery and in city parks. Clearing of forests, increasing edge habitat.The breeding range has expanded north since the mid 1800s for three reasons: Interestingly, the cardinal was once known as a Carolinian species, but it has dramatically expanded its range over the past fifty years. During courting, the male brings the female seeds, a method known as “beak to beak.” Credit: Samir Husni Where to Find CardinalsĪ highly adaptable species, cardinals are found in eastern/central North America as well as southern Canada, parts of Mexico, and Central America.
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