Species names in all available languages
| Language | Common name |
|---|---|
| Catalan | cardenal emplomallat |
| Dutch | Vermiljoenkardinaal |
| English | Vermilion Cardinal |
| English (United States) | Vermilion Cardinal |
| French | Cardinal vermillon |
| French (France) | Cardinal vermillon |
| German | Purpurkardinal |
| Japanese | ミナミショウジョウコウカンチョウ |
| Norwegian | sinoberkardinal |
| Polish | kardynał pąsowy |
| Russian | Пурпурный кардинал |
| Serbian | Vermilion kardinal |
| Slovak | kardinál purpurový |
| Spanish | Cardenal de la Guajira |
| Spanish (Spain) | Cardenal de la Guajira |
| Spanish (Venezuela) | Cardenal Coriano |
| Swedish | cinnoberkardinal |
| Turkish | Guahira Kardinalı |
| Ukrainian | Кардинал південний |
Revision Notes
Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro revised the account as part of a partnership with Unión Venezolana de Ornitólogos (UVO). Peter Pyle contributed to the Plumages, Molts, and Structure page. Guy M. Kirwan contributed to the Systematics page. Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro and Arnau Bonan Barfull curated the media. JoAnn Hackos, Robin K. Murie, and Robin K. Murie copy edited the draft.
Cardinalis phoeniceus Bonaparte, 1838
Definitions
- CARDINALIS
- cardinalis
- phoenicea / phoeniceum / phoeniceus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Vermilion Cardinal Cardinalis phoeniceus Scientific name definitions
Version: 2.0 — Published February 23, 2024
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Photos from this Account
Male and female Vermilion Cardinal.
Natal Down in Vermilion Cardinal.
Hatchlings are sparsely covered with grayish down, primarily on the back and wings. It is unknown if further down develops during the nestling stage.
Natal Down in Vermilion Cardinal.
Note the sparse grayish down on the back and wings.
Juvenile Vermilion Cardinal (left) with Adult Male.
Juvenile Plumage is similar to Definitive Basic female but duller, with brownish to dull orange crest feathers, less or duller gray to the face, and duller buff underparts. Note also the filamentous juvenile body feathers, especially the undertail coverts.
Juvenile Male (left) and Female (right) with Adult male Vermilion Cardinal.
In Juveniles, sexes appear to be similar until Preformative Molt of body feathers commences, when males can be identified by red feathers coming in (as on the left) and females by incoming brown feathers; this can occur shortly after fledging, when still being fed by parents. On the right-hand juvenile female, the tawny feathers on the breast and sides appear to be formative and would be red if a male. Note also that the juvenile crest feathers and edging to the juvenile remiges appear redder on the male than on the female, but study is needed on the usefulness of this for sexing fledglings and juveniles.
Juvenile Male Vermilion Cardinals, initiating Preformative Molt.
Note the dull gray border to the face, brown head plumage, dull red edging to the flight feathers, and buff underparts, indicating juvenile feathering. Sexes are largely similar until Preformative Molt of body feathers commences, when males can be identified by red feathers coming in, as on these two fledglings.
Formative Male Vermilion Cardinal.
Some birds appear to retain juvenile body feathers, in males resulting in a splotchy appearance, brown juvenile contrasting with red formative feathering. The date and rather bleached juvenile underpart feathers worn juvenile upperwing coverts and flight feathers suggests this bird has completed a more limited Preformative Molt than most. Note the red formative median coverts contrasting with the brown juvenile greater and primary coverts. Formative Plumage in males is rather easy to appreciate.
Formative Female Vermilion Cardinal.
Although contrasts between juvenile and formative feathers are easier to detect among males than females, the same molt limits between duller brown juvenile and brighter tawny or reddish-edged formative feathers can be expected in females. Here note the replaced fromative wing coverts contrasting with the worn juvenile remiges; the two inner tertials (s8-s9) may be formative. The juvenile remiges and rectrices are edged with duller or paler red than found in basic feathers.
Formative Male Vermilion Cardinal.
Many Vermilion Cardinals appear to undergo incomplete Preformative Molts, resulting in molt limits among primaries, primary coverts, and secondaries with replacement of just a portion of these feathers in typical molt sequence. The last feathers replaced are the outer primaries and primary coverts, and secondaries among s5–s6; here s4-s6 are retained juvenile feathers and it appears that one or more outer primaries may also be replaced. The retained juvenile (or perhaps early-replaced formative?) feathers of the head, scapulars, and breast are of interest as such plumage patterns do not appear to be common in Northern Cardinal. As in that species, an unknown proportion of formative birds can replace all body and flight-feathers during the Preformative Mol and become indistinguishable from adults in Definitive Basic Plumage.
Definitive Basic (or Formative) Female (left) and Male (right) Vermilion Cardinals.
During and following the Ppreformative Molt, Vermilion Cardinals show highly sex-specific plumage, the red of females being limited to the crest and edging to the flight feathers, where it is duller red than in males. Note also the uniform wing coverts and relatively fresh and broad outer primaries and rectrices, indicating the lack of juvenile feathers. As some birds can undergo a complete Preformative Molt, it is possible that these birds are in Formative Plumage resembling Definitive Basic Plumage.
Definitive Basic (or Formative) Female Vermilion Cardinal.
Brighter individuals such as this may be in Definitive Basic rather than Formative Plumage (study needed). Note the uniformly fresh and broad wing and tail feathers; the lack of molt litis is consistent with Definitive Basic Plumage.
Definitive Basic (or Formative)Female Vermilion Cardinal.
A prominent difference between males and females in all but Juvenile Plumage is that females show grayish, brown, and tawny plumage, with red restricted to the crest and edging to the flight feathers.
Definitive Basic (or Formative) Male Vermilion Cardinal.
During and following the Ppreformative Molt, Vermilion Cardinals show highly sex-specific plumage, the males being almost entirely red ecept for a balck broder around the base of the bill. In some males (such as here), body feathering is rather uniformly bright vermilion. Note also the uniform wing coverts and relatively fresh and broad outer primaries and rectrices, indicating the lack of juvenile feathers. As some birds can undergo a complete Preformative Molt, it is possible that these birds are in Formative Plumage resembling Definitive Basic Plumage.
Definitive Basic Male Vermilion Cardinal.
In some males the upperparts from back to uppertail coverts can be slightly darker red and/or tinged grayish. The broad shapes and bright red edging to the remiges and rectrices are consistent with basic feathering, although formative feathers following a complete Preformative Molt may also appear like this.
Definitive Basic Male Vermilion Cardinal.
Note the uniformly replaced wing and tale feathers with bright red edging, consistent with Definitive Basic Plumage.
Male Vermilion Cardinal undergoing Preformative Molt.
The Preformative Molt appears to occur primarily in August-October, following shortly after fledging and being protracted or incomplete in many individuals. Here the fresh feathering and visible remnants of sheaths indicate ongoing Preformative Molt. Molt can begin with the median coverts and sides of the underparts, with emaining body feathers molting in irregular patterns and numbers. The incoming red formative feathers indicates a male.
Male Vermilion Cardinal undergoing the Second Prebasic Molt.
Examination of Macaulay images indicates that prebasic molts occur in many birds during October-January, up to five months post-breeding, but study is needed on timing of molts throughout the population. Here, molt among the primaries has reached p6. The very old s6 is a retained juvenile feather and indicates that this is the Second rather than a later Definitive Prebasic Molt. Other individual undergoing this molt can lack juvenile feathers, resulting in the Second and Definitive Prebasic Molts being indistinguishable.
Female Vermilion Cardinal completing Prebasic Molt.
Here molt is completing in January, with p9, s6, and r6 growing, the last feathers to be replaced in sequence.
Adult Female Vermilion Cardinal.
In adults of both sexes, the maxilla can be grayish white with black edges and tip and the mandible grayish white to pinkish with dark along the cutting edge. The iris is dark brown and the legs and feet are pale to slaty gray.
Adult Male Vermilion Cardinal.
The base of the culmen can be variably washed dusky in some adult individuals. The iris may average darker brown in adult males than in females.
Adult and Fledgling Male Vermilion Cardinals.
In In fledglings and juveniles the bill can show more black coloration, extending to the entire maxilla in some individuals. Presumably it gradually becomes primarily pale grayish during the first few months of life. This adult male shows a bright silvery to pinkish white bill, with little dusky to the base of the culmen.
Vermilion Cardinal’s habitat; Sucre, Venezuela.
Vermilion Cardinal’s habitat; Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.
Female in its habitat; La Guajira, Colombia.
Female feeding on fruit on bird feeder.
Female foraging on the ground.
Male feeding on seeds.
Male feeding on seeds.
Nest concealed amongst vegetation.
Nest.
Nest with eggs; general view.
Clutch of three eggs.
Downy chicks at nest.
Chicks at nest.
Adult female (left) feeding juvenile (right).
Dead male from vehicle collision.
Habitat destruction due to sand mining is widespread in Venezuela; Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.
Illegal trade is the main threat for Vermilion Cardinal.
Macaulay Library Photos for Vermilion Cardinal
Top-rated photos submitted to the Macaulay Library via eBird. Note: Our content editors have not confirmed the species identification for these photos.
