The Beautiful Cardinal
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| Cardinals
Courtesy of Phil Myers, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
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Cardinal Puzzle
Cardinal Coloring
Where are the Cardinals?
Back to Park Pals Page
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| GLOSSARY |
| Beak |
The bill of a bird.
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| Crest |
A tuft of feathers on the top of the head.
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| Habitat |
The place where an animal normally lives and grows.
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| Migrate |
To move from one place to another.
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| Songbird |
A bird that sings a succession of musical tones.
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| Territory |
An area including a nesting site and foraging range occupied by an animal.
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| Courtesy of Phil Myers, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan |
The Cardinal is the state bird of Ohio and can be found throughout the state. This small songbird is common in urban areas, as well as in our farmlands and woodlands.
Although they are common in urban areas, the cardinal prefers a habitat that has a mixture of woods and brush. These areas provide plenty of protection and food. Some of the cardinal’s favorite foods are sunflower seeds, small fruits and berries, seeds from weeds and insects. The cardinal has a powerful, small beak. It is cone-shaped and thick which is good for cracking the husks of the seeds they eat.
The cardinal does not migrate south during the cold winter months. In the winter, they eat a wider variety of the food that is available. The nest of the cardinal is built with leaves, twigs, bark and grasses in dense brush for added protection. Their nest is typically less than 8 feet off the ground.
Male cardinals are bright red in color with a black “mask” across their eyes and around their beak. The female cardinals aren’t as brightly colored as the males. They are mostly a brown-red with bright red on their wings, tail and crest. Both male and females cardinals have a beak that is bright red. The crest is a tuft of feathers on the top of their head that they can raise and lower. The cardinal typically raises its crest when it is nervous or feeling threatened.
The beautiful cardinal has a beautiful song that is clear and loud. One part sounds like it’s calling “what-cheer-cheer-cheer” and another part sounds like “who-it, who-it, who-it”. They also have a short call that sounds like a “clink”. Cardinals can usually be found singing in the top of the tallest tree in its territory.
Aren’t Cardinals beautiful?
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