Northern Cardinal

Recognition
A bird which is red all over – including its bill - with black markings on its face. The male (right) was photographed by Betty McKeown at her bird feeder. 8” in length.

Where seen
Cardinals are regularly seen at bird feeders around the park and around bushy areas.

Jimmy’s notes
Cardinals arrive in the park during the springtime and leave here after breeding in the summer. The males are often heard singing when they take up their breeding territories.

The males seem to have their favorite perching spots, they are heard singing in the morning and seen feeding at bird feeders late in the afternoon.
Their name means “very important”. The cardinal is the official state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.