|
Northern Cardinal |
|
Cardinalis cardinalis |
| Description: 8-9" male bright red with crest, black face stout red bill, female buff-brown, tinged with red on crest, wings and tail | Habitat: Woodland edges, fields, thickets, brushy undergrowth, suburbs, gardens, feeders with sunflower seeds, swamps, desert washes, riparian areas. Very common in the east. |
| Nesting: 3-4 pale green eggs spotted with red-brown in a deep cup of twigs, leaves and plant fibers concealed in a thicket | Range: resident of eastern US south to Gulf Coast |
| Voice: rich what-cheer, cheer-cheer; purty-purty-purty-purty or sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet also a metallic chip | Diet: insects, fruit, and seeds |
| Notes: species named after red robes worn by Roman Catholic Cardinals, occupy territory year-round, forms winter flocks of 60-70 |
| When present in Oklahoma: resident statewide year-round |