Few birds are as instantly recognizable — or as loved — as the Northern Cardinal. That flash of crimson at the feeder is a year-round gift, since cardinals don't migrate. Here's how to know them, attract them, and what they mean to so many people.
How to identify a Northern Cardinal
The male is brilliant red from crest to tail, with a black mask around a bright orange bill. The female is a warm tan with red accents on the wings, tail, and crest — subtle but beautiful. Both have a distinctive pointed crest and a clear, whistled birdy-birdy-birdy song.
How to attract cardinals to your yard
Cardinals love black-oil sunflower seed and safflower. Use a sturdy platform or hopper feeder (they're a bit big for small perches), and plant dense shrubs nearby — they like cover close to food. A ground feeder works too, since cardinals often forage low.
What does a cardinal symbolize?
For many, a cardinal is a sign that a loved one is near — "when a cardinal appears, an angel is near." Across cultures the red cardinal represents vitality, devotion, and a message of hope. It's part of why this bird means so much on a wall, not just in the yard.
Keep the cardinal close
Our hand-illustrated Northern Cardinal framed print captures that flash of red for your wall, year-round. See all our single bird prints, or learn how to attract more birds. Made to order in the USA.