Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Czech | kardinál červený |
Dutch | Rode Kardinaal |
English | Northern Cardinal |
English (United States) | Northern Cardinal |
French | Cardinal rouge |
French (France) | Cardinal rouge |
German | Rotkardinal |
Hebrew | קרדינל צפוני |
Icelandic | Kardínáli |
Japanese | ショウジョウコウカンチョウ |
Norwegian | rødkardinal |
Polish | kardynał szkarłatny |
Russian | Красный кардинал |
Serbian | Crveni kardinal |
Slovak | kardinál červený |
Slovenian | Severni kardinal |
Spanish | Cardenal Norteño |
Spanish (Honduras) | Cardenal Rojo |
Spanish (Mexico) | Cardenal Rojo |
Spanish (Spain) | Cardenal norteño |
Swedish | röd kardinal |
Turkish | Kırmızı Kardinal |
Ukrainian | Кардинал червоний |
Revision Notes
Peter Pyle contributed to the sections on Similar Species, Plumages, Molts, and Bare Parts on the the Appearance page.
Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Definitions
- CARDINALIS
- cardinalis
The Key to Scientific Names
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Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Scientific name definitions
Version: 2.0 — Published February 12, 2021
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Identification
Field Identification
Medium-sized songbird; length of C. c. cardinalis, male 22.2–23.5 cm, female 20.9–21.6 cm (61). Average mass of C. c. cardinalis (sexes combined) 42–48 g, though there appears to be variation with geographic location (within and between subspecies) and time of year. Plumage distinctive—adult male in Definitive Basic is red with black face mask surrounding bill; female in Definitive Basic is grayish tan, with some red on wings, tail, crest, face, and breast, red to red-orange underwings, and pale gray to black face mask. Both sexes have a prominent crest and heavy conical orange-red bill. Juvenile similar to female, but has gray to black bill, shorter crest, less red coloration on the body, and more loosely textured feathers (especially undertail coverts). Males and females gain definitive-like plumage in their first year (Formative Plumage), though many first-year individuals can still be distinguished by retained juvenile primaries, secondaries, and/or rectrices. Males in introduced Hawaiian population can appear duller than mainland birds, but not quantified (R. Pyle, personal communication).
Similar Species
The combination of plumage color, crest, and orange-red conical bill distinguish the Northern Cardinal from all other species within its range, except the Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) of the southwestern United States and Mexico. In all plumages, Pyrrhuloxia is distinguished from female and juvenile Northern Cardinal by a shorter bill with a conspicuously decurved upper mandible (yellow to orange in summer adults, horn to brown or grayish brown in winter). Additionally, Pyrrhuloxia plumage is grayer, versus browner in female Northern Cardinal, and male Pyrrhuloxia has a red patch around the base of the bill and variable red coloration down the center of the underparts.