The cardinal bird :)

The Cardinal, also known as the red bird, is characterized by having a distinctive ridge and chest with a bright red color (although it can also be yellow in color). The cardinals received this name because the first found specimens presented the red plumage (cardinal of Virginia), the color of the clothes used by the religious cardinals. This bird of scientific name Cardinalis cardinalis, is the symbol of the North American state of Virginia and six other states, besides being also a symbol in other countries such as Mexico and Guatemala.

characteristics

The Cardinal can be found in the gardens of North America, in Mexico and Belize. It lives in arid and semi-arid zones, in mezquitales and low jungle. Cardinal is the common name given to several species of birds of small to medium size that are found throughout the Americas.

The Cardinals measure between 20 and 23 cm and weigh from 42 to 48 gr. They are characterized by having a plume and chest of red color, although it can also be yellow. They have a powerful cone-shaped beak that is well adapted to their seed diet. The species presents sexual dimorphism (in almost all variants): the male has the red beak; the pointed crest and legs gray, is bright red, but more opaque in the upper parts.

The Cardinal with the red plume, the yellow Cardinal, the Northern Cardinal and the Cardinal Pope are known.

• Red-capped cardinal: This species, which is 17 to 18 cm in size, can be found in the northern part of South America, more specifically in Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. Just as the Cardinal pope, male and female do not present many differences.

• Yellow Cardinal: is present in the Northeast region of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. They are birds that measure 18 to 20 cm, approximately, and whose main characteristic is the tranquility with which they live with their master. This male has a pretty nice song. The differentiation between males and females can be determined through the coloration, since the female presents less colors and more discrete spots on the head, and the males present yellow spots below the peak.

-Cardenal norteño: it is distributed from Central America to Canada, and these specimens measure between 18 and 20 cm, approximately. The males have a brighter red color and the females are more brown.

• Cardinal Pope: lives in the Northeast of Brazil, and can have 16 to 18 cm. In this species it is more complicated to distinguish males from females.

Behavior

The Cardinals are very calm and sociable birds, which coexist well with other birds, except at the time of gestation when they become more nervous and must be separated from other birds. They like spacious environments.

This bird is recognizable by its strong and clear song, which can animate any house. When spring arrives you can hear its chant in the form of chirps or whistles, similar to the sounds that a flute emits. Cardinal females also sing, practically unusual in northern songbirds.

These birds can often be seen in large flocks, and were once very popular as pets, but are currently classified as a species at potential extinction risk and are protected by conservation laws.
Feeding

The cardinal's diet consists of seeds, fruits, flowers and berries, occasionally insects and other invertebrates. As there is no special preparation for these birds, the owner can prepare a mixture. You can mix two parts of food for parakeets and one part of food for canaries. To this mixture you must add green foods, fruits, panizo or insects. During the breeding it is necessary to administer yolk of egg so that the little children grow more healthy.
Reproduction

The females and chicks are pardoamarillent, with touches of red on the crest, wings, tail and chest.

The cardinals do not migrate. They have a resounding song, which is also produced by females, which is unusual in northern songbirds. They can be heard on the first sunny days of the end of winter. The nests are bulky and heavy, they build them with twigs, rootlets and strips of bark and cover them inside with grass and other finer materials.
Care

Cardinals are usually very selective about their partner. Thus, a good upbringing goes through choosing a good couple of cardinals. The laying is three to five eggs, which have a blue-green color with black spots. The incubation period of the eggs lasts from eleven to twelve days. The young need frequent care from their parents and are fed by their father with live insects. Its plumage grows during the first eight after birth. The Cardinals build their nest with coconut fibers and dry branches, on top of a bush.
In captivity

It is not recommended to raise the cardinals in a closed cage or birdhouse. These birds need a large place, with plenty of space for their movements and the presence of plant elements. Although special heating is not necessary, the housing must be protected from currents, especially in winter. It may be advisable to cover the floor of the housing with sand since these birds like to dig the ground to look for small insects.