Cardinals are one of the most recognizable backyard birds in North America. With their bright red plumage and distinctive crest, these songbirds are a delight to observe going about their daily activities.
If you’ve noticed a pair of cardinals frequenting your feeders, you may be wondering – do cardinals stay in the same area year after year or do they migrate?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Cardinals are non-migratory birds that establish permanent territories. Most cardinals will remain in the same general area throughout the year as long as there’s ample food and shelter available.
In this detailed article, we’ll take an in-depth look at cardinal territory, mating habits, food sources, and migration patterns. We’ll discuss how factors like weather, urbanization, backyard bird feeding, and more can influence whether an individual cardinal remains in the same location over many seasons or decides to move elsewhere.
Cardinals are Non-Migratory Birds That Establish Permanent Territories
Cardinals do not migrate and mostly remain in the same territory year-round
Unlike many of their avian cousins who migrate south for the winter, cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are non-migratory birds. They tend to establish permanent residency and remain in the same general territory year-round rather than making seasonal migrations (according to Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology).
Some young cardinals may wander a bit further to establish new territories after fledging, but most cardinals will stake out permanent territories as breeding pairs and remain there season after season.
According to a study referenced in Northern Cardinals, a book from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, adult cardinals generally stayed within 1 km of their territory center throughout the year.
Cardinal territories are established in the spring by mating pairs
According to the National Audubon Society’s overview on Northern Cardinals, during the late winter and early breeding season stretching from March to May, mated pairs begin to establish breeding and nesting territories that they will often occupy permanently.
The male cardinal sings loudly and frequently throughout the territory during this time to both attract potential mates and ward off intruders. After pairs are established, they work cooperatively to defend the territory from other competing pairs or predators.
Both the male and female may chase, dive bomb or physically attack intruders.
Territories range from 1-10 acres in size depending on food availability
Since cardinals rely so heavily on available food sources within their territories rather than migrating, the sizes of their territories can vary greatly depending on the environment and abundance of natural food and feeders.
According to the Birds of North America Online database, typical territories can range anywhere from 1 to 10 acres on average.
A field study cited in The Auk academic journal found that across different habitats in central Texas, average cardinal territories tended to be smaller in riparian woodlands (1.74 acres) where food was abundant and larger in open prairies (4.01 acres) where it was more scarce.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Northern Cardinals in particular may also reduce territory sizes and condense into slightly larger groups over winter when resources are limited. But their territories still tend to center around established food sources like fruiting shrubs, trees, vines and feeders.
Cardinals Mate for Life and Defend Their Chosen Territory
Cardinals form long-term pair bonds
Cardinals are monogamous birds that form long-term pair bonds. Once a male and female cardinal find a mate, they tend to stay together for life. The male will sing beautiful songs and perform courtship displays to attract the female. If she accepts, they become mates and remain faithful to each other.
According to research, about 90% of cardinal pairs stay together for multiple breeding seasons. Some pairs have even been observed staying together for up to 15 years!
Both males and females defend the territory from intruders
Cardinal pairs work together to defend their breeding territory from intruders. Both the male and female will chase away other cardinals entering their space. The male is particularly aggressive, engaging in intense fights with other males over territory boundaries.
Females don’t fight as much but will scold and chase intruders. Cardinals are highly territorial during breeding season from March to September. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a cardinal pair may defend a territory of 1-4 acres.
The male often sings from high perches to warn off rivals
A big way male cardinals defend their territory is by singing bold songs from high perches near the boundary. The male’s bright red plumage against the treetops serves as a visual warning signal too. His songs and flashes of crimson say “keep out” to other males looking to enter his space.
Females don’t sing but will chip and call when spotting intruders. According to the Cornell Lab’s research, peak singing occurs for an hour before sunrise and again near sunset. So listen for the cardinal’s melodious voice as he defends his home range at dawn and dusk.
Cardinals Consume a Variety of Food Sources Within Their Territory
Cardinals are omnivores that eat seeds, fruits, and insects
Cardinals have an omnivorous diet consisting of both plant and animal matter. Some of their favorite foods are seeds from plants like sunflowers, millet, and safflower. They also enjoy various fruits like wild berries and dogwoods.
To supplement their diet, cardinals will eat a wide variety of insects like beetles, crickets, caterpillars, and ants.
They forage along forest edges and shrubbery within their territory
Cardinals primarily search for food along the forest edges and in shrubbery within their home territory. These transitional zones between habitat types are rich in the seeds, fruits, buds, and insects that cardinals feed on.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology[1], over 75% of a cardinal’s diet during breeding season consists of invertebrates and insects foraged in shrubs and trees.
Backyard bird feeders can help cardinals supplement their natural diet
Backyard bird feeders stocked with sunflower seeds, safflower, suet, dried mealworms, and fruit help attract cardinals looking to supplement their natural food sources. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the number of cardinals spotted between 1966 and 2015 increased by over 1% per year, partly due to the prevalence of backyard bird feeders[2].
Offering a variety of foods will likely bring breeding and migratory cardinals to backyards within their territories.
Severe Winter Weather Can Trigger Short-Distance Movement
Most cardinals endure cold winters without migrating
The bright red northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a year-round resident across most of eastern North America. They have adapted to survive freezing temperatures and snow cover during winter. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, less than 1% of the total population migrates any significant distance.
Cardinals mainly endure the cold due to effective feather insulation and the ability to fluff feathers to trap air. They also grow more feathers for winter. Their small size and high metabolism allows them to produce body heat quickly as well.
Birds lower their body temperature at night to conserve energy. They may shelter in cavity nests or brush piles to stay warm.
In harsh winters, some may move short distances to find food
While most cardinals stay put all winter, a few may wander short distances of up to 60 miles in unusually severe conditions to find more reliable food sources. Deep snow can cover normal feeding areas. Prolonged ice storms also limit access to seeds and fruits.
Birds may seek backyard feeders in these situations before returning to their territories when conditions improve.
Urbanization and Bird Feeding Help Sustain Resident Cardinals
Cardinals Adapt Well to Urban and Suburban Areas
The bright red Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is well-known for its ability to thrive in urban and suburban habitats. As cities expand into former forest and farmland, cardinals have become accustomed to making their homes in parks, backyards, and green spaces.
Their fondness for bird feeders certainly helps them survive the winter in colder climates. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the cardinal’s population remains widespread and even continues to expand in some areas.
The adaptability of cardinals demonstrates that some species can flourish when living in close proximity to humans.
Access to Backyard Feeders Allows Them to Remain Year-Round
Backyard bird feeding stations provide a supplemental food source that enables cardinals to remain in their breeding territories year-round. This supplemental feeding is especially crucial during winter when natural food sources are scarce.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, over 50% of cardinals do not migrate and instead rely on these backyard feeders. Black oil sunflower seeds are a preferred food. Offering suet feeders stocked with nutritious suet cakes provides dietary fat cardinals need to survive cold winters.
Providing a constant, dependable food source in urban and suburban yards has directly contributed to the increasing numbers of cardinals that remain resident throughout the year.
Landscaping with Native Plants Provides Food and Shelter
In addition to backyard bird feeders, landscaping yards with native plants that provide shelter and produce seeds or berries cardinals relish will help attract and sustain them. Some excellent choices enjoyed by cardinals include dense shrubs like juniper and spruce for nesting sites and escape cover.
Fruit trees like mulberry and flowering dogwood offer summer berries. Native wildflowers and grasses such as blazing star and little bluestem provide nutritious seeds. The National Audubon Society recommends planting native species over exotic varieties to benefit birds.
By designing yards with cardinals in mind, urban residents can help provide the food, shelter, and nesting habitat cardinals need to thrive.
Conclusion
In summary, northern cardinals are primarily non-migratory birds that establish permanent breeding territories each spring. Mated pairs will defend these territories year-round against intruders. Cardinals remain in the same general area as long as adequate food, water, and shelter are available nearby.
While they can make minor movements in response to severe winter weather, most cardinals will return to their normal territory once conditions improve. The availability of food sources provided by humans, such as backyard bird feeders and landscaping with native plants, helps sustain cardinals as resident backyard birds.
