What is the State Bird of Illinois? (And Why?)

Illinois is the 25th largest state in the United States by area and the 6th most populous. There are many different habitats for birds and wildlife, with many lakes and lowland hilly areas. Illinois’ state animal is the white-tailed deer, but what is the state bird?

Illinois chose the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as its state bird in 1929. Known for its vibrant crimson plumage, this medium-sized songbird has chosen Illinois as one of its home states. Northern cardinals prefer a happy medium between woodland and open areas, so the prairie state became a natural choice for these birds.

Northern Cardinal on a Cedar Tree

Why is the northern cardinal the state bird of Illinois?

In 1928, at the request of the Macomb chapter of the National Federation of Professional Women’s Clubs, Illinois schoolchildren voted for the state bird. It wasn’t until the following year that the legislature officially named the cardinal the national bird. While seven states have chosen the bird, Illinois became the first. Other candidates include orioles, blue jays, meadowlarks and sandpipers.

When did the northern cardinal become the state bird of Illinois?

Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818, but didn’t name its state bird until 1929. The Illinois State Legislature passed legislation on June 4, 1929, declaring it the state bird. The state shares the northern cardinal as its state bird with Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Male northern cardinal taking a bath

What does Illinois’ state bird look like?

The males of the northern cardinal have vibrant crimson plumage, while the females have reddish-brown or golden plumage. Males of this bird grow a little larger than females, but not by much. Otherwise, both sexes of this bird are physically similar to each other. The breasts and upper parts of females are yellow with gray stripes, but their bellies are white or light gray. Typically, these birds have a black beak with a brown base.

From head to tail, the northern Illinois cardinal measures 7.9 to 9.3 inches in length and has a wingspan ranging from 9.8 to 12.2 inches. These little birds don’t weigh much — just 1.19 ounces to 2.29 ounces.

learn more female cardinalreview this guide.

Male and female northern cardinals perched on a tree

How are these birds behaving?

These birds usually thrive in bushes in the wild. In Illinois, their habitat is slightly different. They live in suburban wooded areas, swamps, streamside bushes and the fringes around vegetation.

While the birds varied in size depending on the state they were in, their lifespan, mating habits and feeding tendencies remained similar. Cardinals live about 13 to 15 years. During that time, the birds mate with their mates and build nests. The two birds communicate through song. Much of the cardinal’s song that humans love is that of a couple staying connected while apart.

When a primary couple has a child, the incubation period for their eggs takes about 11 to 13 days. While the eggs are incubating, the mother bird cannot leave the nest, so the father bird will hunt for food and bring it home. At this point, he’s basically doing grocery shopping for two, but once the babies hatch, he’ll bring home enough food for the whole family. Since the chicks cannot leave the nest immediately, the mother bird stays with them to provide care. The father bird continues to hunt, but increases the amount of food he brings back to the nest.

When you hear the snitch “purty-purty-purty” or “cheer-cheer-cheer,” you’re listening to a parent keep in touch as they search for their family. Baby birds need a lot of care and protection because they don’t have full feathers, so they can’t fly yet. The mother must also protect herself and all her babies if predators approach the nest. Understandably, the couple loves to bond during such a dangerous time. You will rarely see females in your yard due to male hunting. By the time you spot a cardinal flying around the nest with food, it and its female partner have probably had a lot of babies.

Closeup of a female northern cardinal

Do Northern Cardinals Form Communities?

The lifestyle of these cardinals is similar to that of mockingbirds in that they form tight-knit marriages and families and are fiercely protective of them. The cardinal will defend his homeland to the death. If it senses a predator, no matter its size, it will fight for its territory, which usually includes its family. You should never approach a cardinal’s den, nor allow your children or pets to do so. Birds will attack you. They also fight for their breeding grounds. If other male cardinals move into breeding territory already occupied, they will fight with their own species.

Sometimes, they see their own reflection in a window or mirrored glass, and they attack it. These birds recognize others of their own kind and can recognize animals as well as humans. Far from being “bird brains,” a phrase that means goofy, though brains are tiny, they’re remarkably small. However, they don’t know that the glass will reflect their shadow. The bird, thinking it was another cardinal, seemed to attack the glass, but was actually wrestling with itself.

Cardinal feeding seeds from backyard bird feeder

What Do Northern Cardinals Eat?

Northern cardinals love to eat, and they have the most diverse diet of any bird. You might expect the Illinois Cardinals to eat the same diet as the Indiana Cardinals, but they don’t. Illinois birds of this species are herbivores. They specialize in eating seeds. Residents of Illinois still eat insects, but they prefer to eat weed seeds, fruit and grains. They love fruit, especially berries and raisins.

You can help them by placing a high-hanging bird feeder in your yard filled with fruits, grains, vegetables, and seeds. If you want to get your yard cardinal excited, you can also offer other popular treats, including safflower seeds, peanut chips, crushed corn, and fresh berries.