The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a familiar backyard bird across much of the eastern and south-central United States. Known for its bright red plumage and distinctive crest, the northern cardinal is the official state bird of seven states, including North Carolina. But are northern cardinals actually found in North Carolina? The quick answer is yes, northern cardinals are common year-round residents across the state of North Carolina. Keep reading to learn more about the range, habitat, and behavior of northern cardinals in North Carolina.
Range of the Northern Cardinal
The northern cardinal has a very large range across eastern North America, extending as far north as southeastern Canada and as far south as Belize and Guatemala. The species’ core range centers across the southeastern and south-central United States. North Carolina falls squarely within the heart of the northern cardinal’s breeding range.
Northern cardinals can be found statewide across North Carolina. They occur in both rural and urban areas, including cities, suburbs, parks, forests, shrublands, and backyards. Northern cardinals are non-migratory and do not make seasonal movements. They maintain permanent year-round territories in North Carolina.
Suitable Habitat in North Carolina
Northern cardinals utilize a variety of habitats across North Carolina, including:
- Forest edges
- Open woodlands
- Shrublands
- Overgrown fields
- Backyards and gardens
- Parks
They prefer sites with dense cover such as shrubs, hedges, vines, and low branches. Northern cardinals particularly favor habitats with an abundance of fruiting plants.
While they inhabit both wetland and upland sites, northern cardinals tend to avoid extremely wet areas like marshes and swamps. They are also scarce in dense, closed-canopy forests.
Abundance in North Carolina
Northern cardinals are an exceptionally common bird across North Carolina. Backyard bird surveys consistently rank the northern cardinal as one of the most frequently observed feeder birds statewide.
Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey indicates that North Carolina represents the core of the cardinal’s breeding range. Breeding bird atlases estimate statewide populations between 2 to 5 million pairs.
Northern cardinals thrive in habitats created by human activities, like suburbs and agriculture. Their populations have expanded northward in recent decades as these habitats spread. Cardinals are now among the most abundant and familiar backyard birds even in northern cities like New York and Boston.
Year-Round Residents
An important factor contributing to northern cardinals’ high abundance in North Carolina is their year-round residency. Northern cardinals do not migrate and instead maintain permanent territories in the state throughout the year.
The same territorial pairs occupy breeding sites in spring, summer, and fall. Pairs may loosen territorial behavior in winter when food becomes scarce, forming larger flocks at feeders. But northern cardinals show high site fidelity, rarely moving more than a few miles from where they hatched.
This year-round presence allows northern cardinals to start breeding earlier and raise more broods per season than migratory songbirds. It also makes them a constant presence at backyard feeders in North Carolina.
Behavior and Breeding
Northern cardinals exhibit some interesting behaviors and adaptations that allow them to thrive in North Carolina.
Diet
Northern cardinals are omnivorous and opportunistic foragers. Their diet includes:
- Seeds and grains
- Berries and fruits
- insects
- Spiders
- Snails
- Small lizards
In North Carolina, common food sources include dogwood, viburnum, and sumac fruits, acorns, corn, sunflower seeds, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders.
Northern cardinals forage mostly on the ground or in low vegetation. They sometimes “hawk” for insects from low perches. Strong, thick bills allow them to crack hard seeds.
Backyard Behavior
Northern cardinals regularly visit backyards throughout North Carolina to feed on birdseed, fruit, and insects. They may even occasionally visit hummingbird feeders.
Aggressive and territorial behaviors often play out at backyard feeders, as resident pairs defend their food source from intruders. But nesting birds will bring fledglings to feeders, sometimes venturing into neighboring territories.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season for northern cardinals in North Carolina spans from March through September. Pairs may raise up to four broods per season.
Courtship displays include the male feeding seed to the female. The female builds a sturdy cup nest out of twigs, bark, and grasses, placed in a shrub or small tree.
Females lay 2-5 eggs which incubate for 11-13 days. Both parents feed the young, which leave the nest at around 9-11 days old. Pairs aggressively defend their nest sites.
Attracting Cardinals to Your Backyard
Northern cardinals are already common visitors to backyard feeders and habitats across North Carolina. But consider these tips to make your yard even more cardinal-friendly:
- Plant native shrubs like dogwoods and viburnums that provide berries.
- Retain brush piles, which provide shelter and insect food sources.
- Add feeding stations with sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cracked corn, and fruit.
- Supply a water source like a birdbath.
- Avoid trimming hedges and shrubs during nesting season.
With ample food, water, cover, and nesting sites, your North Carolina backyard is sure to attract resident pairs of colorful northern cardinals year round. Enjoy watching the antics of these backyard favorites.
Conclusion
In summary, northern cardinals are very common permanent residents across the state of North Carolina. They inhabit a variety of rural and urban habitats statewide, including forests, thickets, suburbs, and backyards.
Abundant food sources allow northern cardinals to remain in North Carolina year-round, where they readily visit feeders and defend breeding territories. Their hearty populations have expanded northward in recent decades.
So whether you live in the mountains, piedmont, or coastal plain, keep an eye out for the bright red plumage and loud whistles that announce the presence of the northern cardinal, North Carolina’s most familiar backyard bird.