Fauna Flora Photography

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

In the winter, the most colourful bird that can be found in woods and forests around Montreal. Northern Cardinal usually appears as couple. If you spot a male the female is not for away.

Taxonomy

Aves > Passeriformes > Cardinalidae

Names in different Languages

GermanRotkardinal, Rote Kardinal
EnglishNorthern Cardinal
FrenchCardinal rouge
SpanishCardenal norteño, Cardenal rojo

How to Identify

Both, male and female are easily identified. The male is completely red, the female brownish, light brown almost yellow on the breast, darker almost olive on the back and with partially red wings. Both have a black mask around the reddish beak.

Where When to Spot

There is no park where I haven’t seen Northern Cardinals. Early in the morning, the male exposes himself by sitting on a branch performing his chant. Due to its intensive red color easily to spot. The female may not be for away, somewhere hidden in the bushes at lower ground.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Jardin Botanique de Montréal 4 2 0 2
Parc Angrignon 15 5 0 3
Parc Bernard-Landry 2 0 1 0
Parc Mont-Royal 0 0 1 1
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies 6 0 0 1
Parc de la Frayère 2 2 0 0
Parc des Rapides 1 0 0 0
Parc Île-de-la-Visitation 1 0 0 0
  31 9 2 7

Number of times a species has been observed, identified, and recorded. A species is reported only once per visit to a park.

Photos of Northern Cardinal

Videos of Northern Cardinal

You can watch these videos and many more on Muuuh's YouTube Channel.

Last updated on 2023-06-20. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.