Species guide

Northern cardinal

Harmless

Cardinalis cardinalis

Northern cardinal
Photo: Andrew Murray · CC BY

How to recognise it

The male is brilliant red with a black face mask and a tall crest; the female is warm tan with red tinges and the same crest. Both have a thick orange-red bill.

Is it dangerous?

A harmless, much-loved feeder bird.

Recorded 27,190,217 times in the wild worldwide.

Think you've spotted one?

Photograph it and let SpecieSense confirm the species — and show you the reasoning.

Identify a specimen

Related species guides