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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Perching Birds (Order Passeriformes)

-Cardinals and Allies (Family Cardinalidae)

-Typical Cardinals (Genus Cardinalis)

-Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)


The Northern Cardinal is a fairly large, long-tailed songbird with a short, very thick bill and a prominent crest. Cardinals often sit with a hunched-over posture and with the tail pointed straight down. Male cardinals are brilliant red all over, with a reddish bill and black face immediately around the bill. Females are pale brown overall with warm reddish tinges in the wings, tail, and crest. They have the same black face and red-orange bill. Northern Cardinals tend to sit low in shrubs and trees or forage on or near the ground, often in pairs. The adults food consist of insects, spiders, wild fruits, berries, and weed seeds. Pairs often stay mated until one dies at which time the surviving mate will look for another partner.

Northern Cardinal - Male

Cardinalis cardinalis

Diet

  • Primarily seeds, grains, and fruits, including sunflower seeds, grasses, berries, and wild fruits.

  • Also feeds on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, crickets, ants, and spiders, especially during the breeding season.

  • Commonly visits bird feeders for sunflower seeds and other grains.

Range

  • Found throughout the eastern and central United States, eastern Mexico, and locally in northern Guatemala and Belize.

  • In Mexico, it occurs mainly along the Gulf slope, northeastern states, and parts of the Yucatán Peninsula.

  • It does not occur naturally in the Zihuatanejo region or on Mexico's Pacific coast.

  • Inhabits woodland edges, brushlands, riparian forests, suburban gardens, parks, orchards, and dense shrublands.

  • A year-round resident throughout its range.

Male / Female

  • Male: Brilliant crimson-red plumage with a black mask surrounding the bill and throat; bright orange-red bill and prominent crest.

  • Female: Warm buffy-brown overall with reddish tinges on the wings, tail, and crest; grey-black facial mask and bright orange-red bill.

  • The sexes are easily distinguished by their strikingly different plumage.

  • Size

    • Length: 21–23 cm (8.3–9.1 in)

    • Wingspan: 25–31 cm (9.8–12.2 in)

    • Weight: 42–48 g

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