How to Attract Northern Cardinal to Your Yard

Cardinal is a family of birds found in North and South America. The Northern cardinal (Cardinalidae) is its most common species. The birds are named for the red plumage of the male cardinals.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yard or garden
• Feeder for large birds
• A variety of seeds, fruits and berries

1. 
   Backyard visitor

   The feeder for the birds is more important than the food you offer. Cardinals can’t cling due to their size and weight. They won’t eat off a feeder that sways in the wind or anything that they have to balance on. They prefer eating from a low platform feeder or on the ground.
   
   If using a platform feeder, it is nice to have a roof for seed protection against snow and rain.

2. 
   Female cardinal

   Cardinals eat a diet of fruits, berries, seeds and insects. There are a lot of bird seed choices that they love. They are especially appeal to sunflower seeds and safflower seeds.

3. 
   Cardinal in winter

   The nest of Northern cardinals are usually placed 1 - 15 feet above ground in shrubs or bushes, and are made of bark strips, twigs, roots, leaves and sometimes paper.
   
   The nests are lined with grass, vines, and feather. Only the females builds nest while the males protect their territory. The eggs are white in color with heavy light brown to black speckles. Egg clutch is usually 2-5.

4. 
   Cardinal chick

   The male birds have bright, deep red plumage and black faces. The females are more subdued in color; colors range from light brown to dull red (or pale pink), with gray or brown feathers on wings and tail .

5. 
   Cardinal eggs

   Cardinals are non-migratory. They spend their whole lives within approximately an 10 square mile area. If you do feed the cardinals then you will be having the same visiting individuals.

Tips & Warnings

• If you prefer a hanging feeder, use a large hopper with over-sized perch for these big birds to stand on.

[ScarlettOHairy]

on 1/21/2009 Oh, I love Cardinals. Thanks for the great tips on feeding and attracting these beautiful birds and for the wonderful photos, from egg to full-grown! 5*