Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Few birds are so familiar and well-loved as the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). The male "Redbird" is unmistakable thanks to its distinctive crest and vivid red plumage. The female’s plumage of brown with red accents is more subdued, but she sings just as beautifully as her mate.
The cardinal is a popular motif on countless bird-themed decorations, holiday cards, and ornaments. It even features as a main character in the Angry Birds media franchise. The species’ eye-catching plumage and wide distribution also helped land the Northern Cardinal the title of “most popular state bird,” since the following seven states declare it the official bird (the most for any species): Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. It's also a popular sports mascot, from Missouri (the St. Louis professional baseball team) to Arizona (professional football team), and at countless colleges and high schools.
Also known as: Redbird, Cardenal Rojo (Spanish), hmukwinùnd (Lenape), meesquouns (Algonquian), mis-ko-be-na-sa (Ojibway)
Learn more about the Northern Cardinal at abcbirds.org/bird/northern-cardinal.
Few birds are so familiar and well-loved as the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). The male "Redbird" is unmistakable thanks to its distinctive crest and vivid red plumage. The female’s plumage of brown with red accents is more subdued, but she sings just as beautifully as her mate.
The cardinal is a popular motif on countless bird-themed decorations, holiday cards, and ornaments. It even features as a main character in the Angry Birds media franchise. The species’ eye-catching plumage and wide distribution also helped land the Northern Cardinal the title of “most popular state bird,” since the following seven states declare it the official bird (the most for any species): Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. It's also a popular sports mascot, from Missouri (the St. Louis professional baseball team) to Arizona (professional football team), and at countless colleges and high schools.
Also known as: Redbird, Cardenal Rojo (Spanish), hmukwinùnd (Lenape), meesquouns (Algonquian), mis-ko-be-na-sa (Ojibway)
Learn more about the Northern Cardinal at abcbirds.org/bird/northern-cardinal.
