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Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Bird · family Cardinalidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Northern Cardinal
Photo: patricia pierce, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
42 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
15 years[4]

The Northern Cardinal is a songbird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe lists it as native in 42 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Northern Cardinal G5 (Secure) worldwide[2] and N5 (Secure) in the United States[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the ESA[1], but as a migratory bird it is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Northern Cardinal lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Cardinal as native across much of the eastern and central US, from Maine and Florida west to Texas, Kansas and the Dakotas[3]. It is also listed as native in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and California[3]. Each state also has its own NatureServe rank, shown in the table on this page[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S4NDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4B,S3NSDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S5BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: native, state rank S1CAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank SNACONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (42 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
CaliforniaS1Critically Imperiled
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5BSecure (breeding)
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS4Apparently Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaS4Apparently Secure
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS4B,S3NApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records this bird in hardwood woodland, shrubland, suburbs and orchards, forested wetlands and streamside areas[10]. It likes thickets, brushy ground, forest edges, clearings and spots around homes, and in dry country it uses scrub and brush along streams[11]. It usually stays out of thick forest[11]. Nests sit low in dense shrubs, vines or small trees, and the female builds a fresh nest for each try[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

Cardinals eat seeds, fruit and small animals such as insects, spiders and snails, and they feed both on the ground and up in shrubs and trees[12][13]. One estimate puts the diet at 70% other plant material, 20% invertebrates and 10% fruit[14]. A typical adult is about 22 cm (9 in) long[15] and weighs about 45 g[16]. A typical clutch size is 3[17], incubation takes about 12 days[18], and both parents care for the young[19]. The oldest known wild cardinal from banding records was at least 15 years 9 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 22 cm (9 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 45 g (1.6 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[20] 28.5 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 15 years 9 months
Litter or clutch size[17] 3
Gestation or incubation[18] 12 days
Female maturity[21] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[13] Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[22] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[14]

  • 70% other plant material
  • 20% invertebrates
  • 10% fruit

When to look for it

The Northern Cardinal is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[23]. NatureServe classes it as a non-migrant, so it generally stays in the same area all year, though populations can differ[22]. GBIF observation records peak in March, April and May, which reflects when people look and report[24].

January: 1,864,527 recordsJanFebruary: 2,341,560 recordsFebMarch: 2,408,251 recordsMarApril: 3,438,166 recordsAprMay: 3,765,250 recordsMayJune: 1,910,169 recordsJunJuly: 1,593,280 recordsJulAugust: 1,500,425 recordsAugSeptember: 1,663,533 recordsSepOctober: 1,661,389 recordsOctNovember: 1,364,313 recordsNovDecember: 1,559,140 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,864,527
February2,341,560
March2,408,251
April3,438,166
May3,765,250
June1,910,169
July1,593,280
August1,500,425
September1,663,533
October1,661,389
November1,364,313
December1,559,140

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Cardinal as present in 158 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 134 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Cardinal endangered?
No. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure)[2]. It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].
Where do Northern Cardinals live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 42 US states and territories, mostly in the East and center of the country, plus Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and California[3].
What do Northern Cardinals eat?
They eat seeds, grains, fruit, buds and flowers, plus insects, spiders, snails and slugs[12]. One estimate puts the diet at 70% other plant material, 20% invertebrates and 10% fruit[14].
How big is a Northern Cardinal?
A typical adult is about 22 cm (9 in) long[15] and weighs about 45 g[16].
How long do Northern Cardinals live?
The oldest known wild cardinal from US and Canadian banding records was at least 15 years 9 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Cardinal is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Cardinal: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Cardinal as native in 42 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Northern Cardinal from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 15 years 9 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a bird in the family Cardinalidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Northern Cardinal is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Cardinal (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Cardinal: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Suburban/orchard, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Cardinal. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Cardinal. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 70% other plant material, 20% invertebrates, 10% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 22 cm (9 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 45 g (1.6 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3. AnAge
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Cardinal. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 28.5 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  21. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  22. NatureServe migration category for Northern Cardinal: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Northern Cardinal in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Cardinal as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Cardinal: Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: patricia pierce, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.