Why is the northern cardinal the state bird of Virginia?
When did the northern cardinal become Virginia’s state bird?
What does Virginia’s state bird look like?
How are these birds behaving?
Do Northern Cardinals Form Communities?
What Do Northern Cardinals Eat?
Virginia is a federal state with remarkable mountains and estuaries. It is the 35th largest state by area and the 12th largest by population. So, what is Virginia’s state bird?
Virginia has chosen the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as its state bird. This brightly colored, medium-sized songbird is native to Virginia, where it lives in its woodlands, meadows, and gardens.
Virginia’s state bird, the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Why is the northern cardinal the state bird of Virginia?
Although it declared its independence in 1776, because it was one of the original colonies, the Knights State waited almost two centuries to name its state bird! In 1950, the Virginia Legislature voted to name the northern cardinal the state bird.
This bird is a finches, also commonly known as red birds. A species native to Virginia, the state’s European settlers noticed that the bird’s bright colors complemented the robes of Catholic Church cardinals. Since colonial times, residents of the state have enjoyed the cheerful chirping of the state bird.
When did the northern cardinal become Virginia’s state bird?
Virginia took its decision on its state bird lightly. Although it gained statehood on June 25, 1788, it did not choose the northern cardinal as its state bird until January 25, 1950.
The state finds itself in line with six other states that also appreciate what makes this songbird so special. Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky have the northern cardinal as their state bird.
Male (right) and female (left) cardinals perched on a tree
What does Virginia’s state bird look like?
Look for a black patch at the base of the beak or beak to identify males of the species. Adult male northern cardinals have bright crimson plumage. Adult females of this species develop reddish-brown plumage. If you observe birds in multiple states, you’ll notice that a female northern cardinal’s plumage varies slightly in color, which helps her match her natural surroundings. The bird will often choose materials that match its color for its nest.
Both sexes grow to a similar size, the males of this species just crowd them out. They weigh between 1.5 oz and 1.7 oz. They are similar to each other in other ways. The female cardinal has a black beak with a brown base juxtaposed with a gray face with a crest and light gray or white belly. Look for them to have a wingspan of 10 to 12 inches and a length of 8 to 9 inches from head to tail.
Male northern cardinal in flight
How are these birds behaving?
The northern cardinal is a non-migratory bird that usually nests within a mile of its birthplace. They settle in the home’s yard or garden, often nesting in bushes. When they settle in the wild, they thrive in bushes. In Virginia, many of these birds inhabit suburban wooded areas, swamps, streamside scrub and vegetation. They don’t build their nests too high off the ground—just one to five feet above.
The average lifespan of a Northern Cardinal is 13 to 15 years. They reach sexual maturity at one year old, and males establish breeding colonies. Females choose a mate from young single northern cardinals. Their complex courtship involves romantic mating behaviors. Males of this species hunt for their dinner, then fly to her to feed her mouth to mouth. From a distance, the two lovebirds appear to be kissing.
female northern cardinal
They use songs as a communication tool. Listen to a song that sounds like “Purity – Purity – Purity” or”Cheers – cheers – cheers.The couple sang to each other while running errands to protect themselves from danger.
The male forages for food, while the female gathers nesting material, builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and cares for the young after they are born. If that sounds a little unbalanced, the male of the couple has to forage for the entire bird family, and he’s also on guard at all times. Birds sing to signal their location, and females sing to warn males of approaching predators so the males can return to protect their offspring and help her fend off predators.
These birds produce two broods per year. The eggs require an incubation period of 11 to 13 days. After 9 to 11 days, the chicks develop their wings. Their parents still seek them out for the remainder of their first month of life, but they leave the den to forage. They leave the nest at one month old to fly with a flock of young birds.
Close up of a northern cardinal eating seeds
Do Northern Cardinals Form Communities?
For most of their first year of life, these birds fly in flocks and sow wild oats. At one year old, they find their mate and commit to a monogamous relationship. At this time, the northern cardinal builds a nest with a loved one and begins to mate. The couple typically have two litters per year, which means the male impregnates the female twice a year. Each litter consists of two to five chicks.
Cardinals, like mockingbirds, formed traditional marriages and extended families that they fiercely guarded. Northern cardinals will fight to the death to protect their homeland from predators, regardless of size. Northern cardinals consider humans to be predators and will attack you or your young if they approach their nest.
Male cardinals fight over their breeding grounds, and if another male of the same species enters their breeding grounds, they will fight with their own species. They can identify their own species, humans, and can identify various animals.
Although they don’t recognize it when they see the mirror glass, so they attack their own reflection, thinking it is an enemy.
Eating a cardinal from a bird feeder
What Do Northern Cardinals Eat?
Northern cardinals love food but dislike open spaces, so they forage in tree-lined avenues, bushes, and the dense foliage of Virginia. In other states, these birds choose a strict diet, while in Virginia they are omnivores, willing to try anything. They also eat insects and plants.
Their favorite meat dishes include beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers and snails. Their favorite plant-based dishes include oats, sunflower seeds, and fruit—mainly berries. They like to drink maple sap, which they sip from holes formed by sap-sucking trees.
In winter, they flock to yards with bird feeders about five feet above the ground to eat sunflower seeds.
For more information on what cardinals eat, check out this guide.
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