VA - Virginia is one of the original thirteen colonies and lies along the eastern coast of the U.S. It stretches from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains. The state is home to the famous Jamestown Settlement, Monticello in Charlottesville, and Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum.
Virginia's Crimson Treasure: An Expert Guide to the Northern Cardinal
In the heart of Virginia, a vibrant flash of red at a backyard feeder or a clear, whistling song from a treetop is a cherished sign of the Commonwealth's natural beauty. This is the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), officially designated as Virginia's state bird on January 25, 1950. With its stunning plumage, year-round presence, and bold personality, the cardinal has captured the hearts of Virginians, making it a perfect and enduring symbol of the state. This guide, grounded in ornithological facts, provides an in-depth look at this beloved bird.
Identifying the Northern Cardinal: More Than Just Red
One of the most recognizable birds in North America, the Northern Cardinal is known for its striking appearance, but both males and females have their own distinct beauty.
- The Striking Male: The male cardinal is unmistakable with his brilliant, fiery-red plumage, a pointed crest on his head that he can raise or lower, and a distinctive black mask around his face. His short, thick, cone-shaped beak is bright reddish-orange, perfectly designed for cracking open seeds.
- The Elegant Female: The female is a study in subtle beauty. She is a warm, buffy-brown overall, with beautiful reddish tinges on her crest, wings, and tail. Like the male, she has a bright orange beak. Uniquely among many North American songbirds, the female cardinal also sings, often from the nest, in a series of clear, beautiful whistles.
Unique Behaviors and a Cheerful Song
- Year-Round Residents: Unlike many songbirds that migrate south, cardinals are non-migratory. This makes them a particularly welcome and spectacular sight in the winter, where their crimson feathers provide a stunning contrast against a snowy landscape.
- The Cardinal's Song: Their song is a series of loud, clear, and unhurried whistles, often described as sounding like "cheer, cheer, cheer" or "birdie, birdie, birdie." You can hear them singing throughout the year to defend their territory.
- Territorial Nature: Male cardinals are fiercely territorial. They will aggressively defend their domain from other males and are famously known for attacking their own reflections in windows, mirrors, and even car hubcaps, mistaking it for an intruder.
How to Attract Cardinals to Your Virginia Backyard
You can easily attract these beautiful birds to your own garden with a few simple, expert-approved steps:
- Provide Their Favorite Foods: Cardinals love black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. Due to their size, they prefer sturdy feeders like platform feeders, hopper feeders, or large tube feeders with a perch.
- Offer Shelter and Nesting Sites: They build their cup-shaped nests in dense shrubs, thickets, and evergreens. Planting native shrubs like dogwood or hawthorn can provide a safe place for them to raise their young.
- Add a Water Source: A birdbath, especially one with moving water or a heater for the winter, is a major attraction for cardinals and other backyard birds for drinking and bathing.
A Shared Symbol of Pride
The Northern Cardinal's widespread appeal is evident in the fact that Virginia shares this state bird with six other states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia. It is a testament to the bird's charisma and its ability to thrive across a wide range of habitats.
Sources:
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (allaboutbirds.org)
- National Audubon Society
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- The Virginia General Assembly (for official state designations)
- American Bird Conservancy
- Reputable ornithological field guides
