Cardinal Nesting (Behavior, Eggs, Location + FAQs)

Northern Cardinal (cardinal) are one of America’s most popular backyard birds, and you just have to look at them to see why. They are one of two North American species of the genus and are found throughout the central and eastern United States, extending as far south as Arizona.

Many birders enjoy having these songbirds nest on their property each year, and with a little luck, they might even nest in your backyard. So when and where do Cardinals nest?

Northern cardinals typically nest in the spring, but they usually start nesting in late winter. The female builds a simple cup-shaped nest five to seven feet above the ground in shrub or wooded, intricate vegetation.

Northern Cardinals use their nests for about three weeks while they hatch their eggs and raise their chicks. They don’t reuse them, so the breeding season can be a very busy time for birds raising as many as four broods per year. While the female cardinals start preparing for the next brood, the males take over the care of the fledgling chicks.

This article describes the nesting habits of northern cardinals. Follow along as we learn when, where and how these colorful songbirds nest in North America’s wild and suburban landscapes.

Close up of a female cardinal in the nest

nest location

Have you ever wondered where cardinals nest? These birds become very territorial as they breed, so there’s a good chance your backyard regulars will nest nearby.

Where do cardinals nest?

Northern cardinals often nest in the forks of thorny shrubs and vines. The impenetrable vegetation protects the eggs and chicks from the elements and any unwanted nest predators.

The northern cardinal breeds in the United States, from northern southeastern Canada to Belize in Central America. They have also been introduced outside of their native range, and today you can find nesting cardinals in Hawaii and Bermuda.

Cardinals nest in a variety of scrub habitats, including suburban areas, woodlands, and along waterways in drier areas.

Do cardinals nest in the same place every year?

Nesting cardinals return to the same breeding grounds each year. In fact, many of them never left at all. Cardinals don’t necessarily nest in the same place every year. However, if they have had success at a particular location in the past, they will occasionally re-use that location.

Are cardinals nesting in the backyard?

Northern cardinals often nest in backyards. These birds have adapted surprisingly well to the suburban and changing American landscape, even expanding their range into southern Canada over the past few decades.

Cardinals often nest in secluded locations – thorny bushes and vines offer protection

Do the Cardinals use nest boxes?

Cardinals do not use nest boxes. Unlike cave-nesting species, these birds prefer to nest in the branches of shrubs and trees.

What tree do cardinals nest in?

Cardinals nest in many different trees and shrubs throughout their vast American range. You may find their nests in the following plant species:

trees:

• pine
• maple
• red and white cedar
• American Elm
• white spruce
• black locust
• nettle hackberry

shrub:

• honeysuckle
• hawthorn
• blackberries
• Privet

How tall are Cardinal nests?

Northern cardinals nest relatively low to the ground. Most nests are built at a height of five to seven feet, although they are between one and forty feet above the ground.

Three recently hatched northern cardinal chicks in their nest

Nest Appearance

Northern cardinals build fairly typical cup-shaped nests. Read on to learn more about what they look like—it might just help you identify a Cardinal nest in your backyard.

What does Cardinal’s nest look like?

Northern cardinals build small bowl-shaped nests out of plant material. Note the twig structure, which is almost twice as wide as it is tall. The outside of the bird’s nest looks messy, but the cups inside are neat and round.

How big is the Cardinal den?

Cardinals build small, cup-shaped nests that are just large enough to house a hatching female and her two or three chicks. Let’s take a look at the average size of a Northern Cardinal nest:

external measurement

• Height: 67 mm (2.6 in)
• Width: 108 mm (4.25 inches)

internal measurement

• Depth: 1.4″ (36mm)
• Width: 2.9 inches (73mm)

Cardinal nest with three unhatched eggs

phenology

Northern cardinals have a relatively long nesting season, sometimes spanning three seasons of the year. Read on to find out when cardinals nest.

What time of year do cardinals nest?

Cardinal nest building begins between late winter and mid-spring (February to April), when winter begins to unravel and the days begin to lengthen. These birds usually nest before the last snow has melted and their chosen trees or shrubs have grown their leaves.

Cardinals start nesting very early and they have a long breeding season. These busy birds can raise several broods in good years and the last chicks may leave the nest in early September in the fall.

How Long Do Cardinals Build Nests?

Northern Cardinals can nest for up to eight months of the year. Just raising a successful brood can take ten weeks or more.

The process begins when the couple sets out to find a nesting site – a task that can take upwards of two weeks. Cardinals take about a week to build a nest and lay their eggs within a week of completion.

The eggs hatch after 11 to 13 days, and the chicks leave the nest after only 9 or 10 days. Young birds are fed by their parents for a month (or more) before becoming fully independent.

What month do cardinals lay eggs?

Cardinals lay eggs in the spring of March and April. The last eggs of the year are usually laid in mid-August.

Where do cardinals nest in winter?

Cardinals usually start nesting in the spring, although some birds stay in breeding grounds year-round. Many cardinals join the flock in winter, often roosting in trees and shrubs.

Male northern cardinal feeding hungry chicks in nest

nest

Female northern cardinals build nests with little or no help from their mates. They use a variety of natural and man-made materials, and the construction takes three to nine days to complete. Read on to learn more about the Cardinal nesting process.

How do cardinals build their nests?

The female northern cardinal nests securely in the fork of a branch without actually being attached to the branch in any way. The nest is made up of multiple layers, starting with a rough outer layer that looks rather loose and untidy.

The neat inner cup is made from a softer material for comfort and warmth.

Cardinals shape their nest by softening twigs and wrapping them around their body, forming a snug cup of just the right size. They turn around in the nest as they work, pushing material into place with their feet.

What do cardinals use to build their nests?

Cardinals use a variety of natural and non-natural materials to build their nests. They weave the outer structure out of twigs, but use softer materials such as strips of bark, leaves, grass and pine needles for the inner layer. Cardinals also use man-made materials like plastic and paper.

Do male cardinals or female cardinals build their nests?

Female cardinals usually build their nests alone, although their mates may gather twigs and other nesting materials.

Female cardinal collecting nesting material

cardinal eggs

After the nest is complete, the female northern cardinal moves on to the next stage of the nest-building process—egg laying. She will lay her eggs in eight days and begin hatching them once they are all safely in the nest.

What do cardinal eggs look like?

Cardinal eggs are small, about 1 x 0.75 inches (2.5 x 2 cm). They have gray or brown spots or blotches on a white, gray or green base.

How Many Eggs Do Cardinals Lay?

Cardinals typically lay two to three eggs, although you can find anywhere from one to five eggs in a single nest.

Do male cardinals sit on eggs?

Male northern cardinals rarely sit in the nest. The female is responsible for incubating the eggs.

Closeup of a cardinal egg

fledgling and parental care

When it comes to feeding the chicks, the male cardinals are more involved. They may also bring food to the female during the first few days of incubation, as they do during courtship.

While the females begin preparing for the next brood, the male cardinals continue to feed the chicks.

When do cardinals leave the nest?

Northern Cardinal chicks leave the nest as early as 7 days after hatching, although most fled after 9 or 10 days, and some don’t leave until they are nearly two weeks old.

Baby northern cardinals are still dependent on their parents at this stage and will stay very close to their nest. In fact, their parents will feed them for up to eight weeks after they are fledgling.

How many children did the Cardinal have?

Northern Cardinals can have up to four litters per year, but two or three are more common.

Female cardinal feeding chicks

Cardinal Nest FAQs

Are Cardinals Abandoning Their Nests?

Cardinals abandon their nests after they finish building their nests for the year. They won’t give up nests containing eggs or chicks very quickly, but you shouldn’t get too close to the nest so as not to disturb the mother and chicks.

Do cardinals nest on the ground?

Northern cardinals do not nest on the ground. They choose to nest under the shelter of dense shrubs and trees.

Where do cardinals nest at night?

The female cardinal sleeps on top of the eggs at night, keeping them warm and sheltered. They sleep in trees and shrubs outside of nesting season.

Male Cardinal feeding his four day old chicks

How to Attract Nesting Cardinals

The best way to attract cardinals to your yard is to provide good feeding and nesting places. Planting native plants like American elderberry and wild grape provides excellent nesting opportunities for these popular backyard birds.

Do cardinals sleep with their kids?

Cardinals hatch their babies continuously during the first few days after hatching. She has to sleep with the babies and keep them warm because they don’t yet have feathers and can’t regulate their own body temperature.

Can you move the Cardinal lair?

Disturbing nesting cardinals is illegal in the United States. The best option is always to wait until the birds have finished building the nest before removing it.

The hatching and brood period lasts only about three weeks, and the chicks spend the next two weeks flying on their own.