When it comes to looks, Cardinals are one of the most magnificent birds found in the North American region. They can be seen on trees, backyards, and bird feeders, and they are quite loud.
Their dominant chirping makes the environment more lively. However, male and female Cardinals have clear differences within their species.
The simplest way to detect male Cardinals is by their bright red feathers. On the other hand, female Cardinals have pale brown feathers all over their body. Apart from the base color, there are key differences in behavior, crown, and other aspects. So let’s talk about male vs female cardinals in detail.
Differences Between Male Vs Female Cardinals
We must consider a few important aspects when considering the differences between male and female Cardinals. Here is the breakdown:
1. Males Are Bright Red
Male Cardinals have bright red feathers all over their body. The area around their bill is covered with black feathers. The throat area also has a few back feathers as well. They are often larger than their female counterparts. Plus, the tails are a bit longer as well.
On the other hand, female Cardinals have brownish feathers all over their body. But around the edges of the wings, they have a bit of dark red feathers. Similarly, their tails have dark red coloring with a mix of brownish feathers. Sometimes they also have dark red colored feathers around the chest area as well.
2. Males Sing Louder and Chirp More Frequently
The male Cardinals sing louder and more frequently. It’s mostly because they want to attract female Cardinals and want to show their location. They also have to look over their territory and keep the other male Cardinals away.
Where else, the female Cardinals chirp less frequently compared to the males. Since the female Cardinals don’t have to spend time attracting other males, they don’t sing often. Plus, they don’t have to protect any specific area and prefer to stay quiet and secretive.
3. Females’ Crests Are Smaller Than Males’
Even though both male and female Cardinals look similar in size, the females have smaller crests. Moreover, male Cardinals have larger feathers and significant spikes. This is why the male Cardinals have crests that are taller and have more feathers in them.
The female Cardinals have comparatively smaller feathers on their crest, which is why their crests look subdued. In addition, the muted colors also make it look a bit unnoticeable.
4. Male Cardinals Are More Territorial Than Females
Both male and female Cardinals are territorial. But male Cardinals are the most aggressive when it comes to their territory. They are more vigilant in safeguarding their area. They chirp as loud as possible to prevent other male Cardinals from entering their zone.
On the other hand, female Cardinals don’t get involved in territorial disputes when they are in the process of hatching eggs. They focus more on building nests and making them comfortable for their offspring. They also protect their nest and eggs in case of emergency.
5. Females Are the Only Nest-Builders
When male and female Cardinals pair up, the females are the ones who build the nests. The female Cardinals fly to different places to collect materials for their nest.
Moreover, while the female bird builds the nest, the male bird collects food for the female Cardinals. Once the nest is complete, the female Cardinals start laying eggs. In the meantime, male Cardinals protect their area and fight off any intruders.
6. Plumage
The plumage of the male Cardinals is bright red. It’s consistent all over their body except the area near the bill. Instead, the area around the bill is covered with black feathers. The scientific reason behind the bright red color of the male Cardinals is the presence of rhodoxanthin.
The female Cardinals’ plumage is pale brown. Along with the pale brown coloring, they also have spots of dark red at the edge of the wings, chest, and tails. Like male Cardinals, their female counterparts also have black feathers around the bill, but it’s much lighter.
7. Aggressiveness
Male Cardinals are aggressive and dominating in the breeding session. They often fight with other male Cardinals to prevent them from entering their territory. They often sing loudly to let other male Cardinals know of their presence.
Besides the breeding season, male Cardinals like sitting quietly on a tree branch and observing their surroundings. Sometimes, you might find them sitting in a pair or a social group.
On the flip side, female Cardinals are more gentle in nature. They are not as territorial as the males. Instead, they spend time gathering materials for their nest. Their feather color also helps them to blend into nature and works as an excellent camouflage.
However, female Cardinals might be a bit more expressive during the breeding session. But regardless of the season, female Cardinals sing beautifully.
8. Courtship Behaviors
Cardinals are popular for their mating rituals. They choose a single partner for their entire life. Moreover, the male Cardinals are the ones who impress the female Cardinals with their bright red color. Afterward, the male bird will help the female partner find the perfect nesting location within his territory.
Female Cardinals are the ones who choose the exact location for nesting. Once the location is decided, the female Cardinal starts collecting nesting materials and building them. While the female bird creates a nest, the male will ensure total security from outside intruders.
9. Song
Male Cardinals sing in a high pitch with a louder sound. They sing high-intensity songs to protect their territory and nest. The loud whistle-like song can travel long distances notifying competitors of their presence. As a result, other male Cardinals avoid flying into their area.
On the other hand, the female Cardinals also sing but are quieter than their male counterparts. But their songs are complicated and interesting to hear. They call or sing to let their partner know the nest’s location. After identifying the exact location, the male Cardinals take food to the nest to feed the baby birds.
10. Diet
Male Cardinals primarily eat seeds, insects, and fruits. They roam around different areas to look for food. They also fly huge distances to find their favorite snacks. Male Cardinals spend a significant portion of their time finding food for their partner and baby birds.
The same goes for female Cardinals, who love eating seeds, insects, and fruits. The diet of female Cardinals is the same as the male. The only difference is that the males are responsible for the food supply when the female Cardinal is busy building nests, laying eggs, and hatching them.
Conclusion
That was our detailed explanation on the topic of male vs female Cardinals. As you can see, there are quite a few differences between them. These characteristics will help you to detect the gender of the following bird and how to treat them as well.
Most of all, the easiest way to detect male Cardinals is their bright red color. On the other hand, the female Cardinals have a pale brown color with an orangey bill. Both of the Cardinals are gentle and tame in nature. But the male Cardinals might get aggressive in the breeding session.
FAQs
Q. What color is a female Cardinal?
A: Female Cardinals are commonly brown. They also contain dark red spots at the edge of the wing, tails, and chest. They also have an orange-looking bill and black coloring around the bill.
Q. What color is a male cardinal?
A: Male Cardinals are bright red. Their bill is reddish, and the area around it is black. Males have a taller crown compared to their female counterparts.
Q. When can I see male and female cardinals together?
A: You can see male and female Cardinals together around their nest. This is because they live in a single nest and continue their relationship throughout their life. Plus, they are social birds mostly found with their partners or in social gatherings with other Cardinal birds.
