Curious Cardinals
What bird is often the first to visit a feeder in the morning and the last to
stop by and grab a bite at night?
The Northern Cardinal! Easily recognizable because of the male’s bright red
plumage, the cardinal has expanded its range greatly since the days of John
James Audubon. Back then the bird was known only as a southern bird. Today, it
has a wide range throughout the East, New England and southern Canada as well.
Northern populations of the bird tend to migrate during winter while cardinals
that live in the South stay there all year. On bright sunny winter days these
“resident” cardinals will sing.
 Cardinals
prefer to feed on the ground but they will perch at hopper feeders and tube
feeders. Their favorite food is oil sunflower and safflower seeds, and many
times they will choose the seed that’s easiest to open. You can attract
cardinals by putting WBU Supreme Blend or WBU premium sunflower seed in a Seed
Tube or hopper feeder. A tray might entice the cardinal to use the feeder. In winter cardinals generally flock together but by spring they pair up for
nesting season. They are famous for their display of courtship feeding. The male
picks up a bit of food and takes it over and places it on the female’s bill. |
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Frequently Asked
Questions |
| Q: There were many cardinals at my feeder during the winter.
This spring, I seem to have fewer birds, and the ones I have are always
fighting with each other. Why is this happening?
 Many birds tend to fight
during spring, primarily related to mating and nesting activity. As birds
establish their territories, they tend to be aggressive toward other birds
of the same species. And some fluctuations in bird numbers can occur from
this territorial behavior.
Try setting up separate feeding stations to help separate the birds.
Sometimes a physical barrier that separates the feeders is what is needed so
the birds don’t see each other feeding.
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