How to Identify Cardinals

Look at a red bird's coloring to determine if it's a cardinal. Male cardinals are more distinctive in color than females, so they will be much easier to spot. A males is bright red with black surrounding part of his face and chin, similar to a mask, and he has a bright red beak that further distinguishes him from other red birds. The female is duller with gray or grayish olive washed throughout her feathers and her underside is tawny colored. She will have a dull red to reddish pink bill, which still makes her more unusual than other species.

Take note of the shape of the red bird in question. Cardinals have crested heads very similar to a blue jay with the males having a larger crest than the females. They also have very long tail feathers and rounded wings.

Pay attention to the habitat in which the bird lives. Although cardinals can live in a variety of environments, including the edges of forests, lowlands, suburban areas, swamps and desert washes, they prefer thickets and brushy undergrowth. They are more attracted to wild gardens that are tangled instead of immaculately groomed and will flock to feeders containing sunflower seeds.

Investigate what areas of the country that cardinals currently reside in. These birds tend to stick to the eastern part of the United States and much of Mexico, so red birds matching the descriptions above in these areas are more than likely cardinals.

Listen to the sounds the bird makes. A cardinal's song is like a chant with a series of single and double notes that are repeated. Both genders sing almost year round making them not only beautiful to look at, but also to listen to. Some identifiable "words" you might hear in their music include "what-cheer," "who-it," "cheer" and "bir-dy."

Browse through websites that offer online bird identification catalogs, especially those that let you choose features of an unknown bird. This will provide you with several possible choices on what the bird might be. (See resources below) You can also look through bird books that include pictures of different species.

Join a birding group. There are clubs and groups specifically geared towards those who like watching birds and would like to learn more about them. These are especially helpful to amateur bird watchers who can learn tips and tricks on how to identify birds from more experienced birders.