Hobbies And Interests
Identification
The cardinal bird family is divided into more than 40 species, which also include such birds as the bunting, grosbeak, tanager, chat and dickcissel. The Cardinalis genus has two species besides Northern Cardinal: the Desert Cardinal (Cardinalis sinuatus) of the American Southwest and the Vermillion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus), a native of South America.
Cardinal Song
Cardinals are very territorial. As a result, the birds frequently repeat their common refrain -- the cardinal song -- throughout the forest habitat. Also, the birds are very productive, raising at least two groups of chicks during the course of the year. To find the cardinal by sound, first listen to a recorded version of its song, then take a quiet walk through a wooded park or backyard. If cardinals are present, you will be able to hear and spot them.
Feeding Cardinals
Cardinals are attracted to a bird feeder, as long as your home is within their range and located near forests. Sunflowers are one of their favorite foods and these colorful red birds will readily visit a bird feeder when these types of seeds are available. You can also grown certain plants near your house that not only will provide added nutrition, but also provide shelter for the birds. They seem to be very fond of hackberry, dogwood, hollies, red mulberry, wild cherry, sumac, elderberry and viburnum.
Considerations
During the spring and fall mating seasons, male cardinals may become aggressive and attack their own reflection, which they often see in large glass windows. One method to prevent the cardinal and other birds from killing themselves at your place of residence is to stretch netting or fabric tightly in the front of the window. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that overall, commercial and residential residential glass panes kill 1 billion birds a year.