Northern Cardinal | Learn About One Amazing Animal Every Day 005

This is the real-life prototype of the red bird from Angry Birds!

The Northern Cardinal, also known simply as the Cardinal, is a bird species native to North America. It is found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas, and south into Mexico. It also lives on Hawaii’s Big Island and Oʻahu. Cardinals inhabit woodlands, gardens, shrubs, and swamps.

The Northern Cardinal is medium-sized, about 21 cm long, with a distinctive crest on its head. Males and females have different facial colors—males have black faces while females have gray ones. The male’s plumage is bright red, while the female’s is a warm reddish-brown.

They primarily eat seeds but also consume insects and fruits. Male cardinals are territorial and use their songs to mark their boundaries. During courtship, the male feeds seeds to the female with his beak, almost like a kiss. They usually lay 3–4 eggs per clutch and can have 2–4 broods each year.

The famous red bird in the mobile game Angry Birds was designed based on the Northern Cardinal. In 2014, the Polish game studio CD Projekt also adopted the Northern Cardinal as their new corporate logo.