Cardinalis cardinalis
Brush, feeders, and woodland edges in the East, South, and parts of the Southwest. Small perching track, often at a feeder or in snow under a bush.
What does a northern cardinal look like?
Crest, thick orange bill. Male all red. Female warm tan with red in the wings and tail.
What do northern cardinal tracks look like?
A small songbird print. The bird is easier to identify than the track. Look under dense shrubs.
- Small perching track, often at a feeder or in snow under a bush
- Male is bright red with a crest and a black face
- Female is tan with red wings and a crest
- Cone-shaped orange-red bill
- Whitewash under a roost bush
What does northern cardinal poop look like?
Small white-and-dark droppings under a feeder or roost. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Brush, feeders, and woodland edges in the East, South, and parts of the Southwest. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- House finch identification
- American robin identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell a female cardinal from a male?
The female is tan with a crest and red in the wings. The male is red all over, with a black mask.
How to tell a northern cardinal from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- House finch. Too small to separate from other finches. Male is red on the face and chest with a streaked belly.
- American robin. A small perching-bird print. Gray-brown back, orange breast, yellow bill.
Northern cardinal field marks
- Small perching track, often at a feeder or in snow under a bush
- Male is bright red with a crest and a black face
- Female is tan with red wings and a crest
- Cone-shaped orange-red bill
Where the sign shows up
Brush, feeders, and woodland edges in the East, South, and parts of the Southwest. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
A small songbird print. The bird is easier to identify than the track. Look under dense shrubs. Small white-and-dark droppings under a feeder or roost.
Common questions
How do you tell a female cardinal from a male?
The female is tan with a crest and red in the wings. The male is red all over, with a black mask.