There are many cardinal species.Most of them are found in North and South America. Male cardinals are much brighter than female cardinals.Cardinals come in a variety of colors like brown, rose red, yellow, and vibrant red. Male and female cardinals can also be differentiated by their feather and beak colors. Most male cardinals have red feathers and red beaks, while female cardinals have tan feathers and orange beaks. Males have bright colored feathers to attract females. A male cardinal will bring food for a female cardinal. Beak to beak feeding is a part of courtship behavior. Males are extremely territorial, especially during the breeding and nesting season. These territorial birds will even drive away other birds. Males and females build a nest together and it takes three to nine days to complete the nest. The nests of cardinal birds are cup-shaped. Female cardinals typically lay three to four eggs, and they incubate their eggs for 12-13 days. Young birds are fed once every two to three hours. The northern cardinal is the state bird of seven states in America, namely Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. How long do cardinals live? Continue reading to know the average lifespan of a cardinal.The Lifespan Of Various CardinalsIn general, cardinals have a lifespan of 15 years. However, the lifespan can vary greatly depending on the species. Cardinals live longer if they are able to avoid external threats and predators.The most common cardinal bird is the northern cardinal. The average lifespan of northern cardinals in the wild is three years. Some northern cardinals have a lifespa of 13-15 years in the wild. In captivity, the average lifespan of a northern cardinal is 28 years. Predators, parasites, and viral diseases can affect how long northern cardinals live. The oldest northern cardinal lived for around 15 years.The Vermilion cardinal is a cardinal bird that is found in Colombia and Venezuela. These cardinals live for two to three years depending the number of collisions and disease.A desert cardinal is found in the desert areas of the USA and Mexico. The lifespan of this species is eight years. The lifespan can vary due to dehydration and predation by other birds of prey. It is also called Pyrrhuloxia.Red crested cardinals in the wild live for three to six years. In captivity, they can live for 13-15 years. They are found throughout Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.What influences the lifespan of cardinal birds?Over 40% of adult cardinals die each year. The majority of these deaths occur during the winter season and breeding season. There is a wide range of factors that influence the lifespan of cardinals. They are as follows.Predation: Predation is an important aspect that has a huge impact on the lifecycle of all birds. Cardinals are also vulnerable to a number of predators. Snakes, hawks, owls, and squirrels feed on cardinal eggs. Cats, foxes, and other birds of prey target adult cardinals.Diseases: Just like all other birds, cardinals are also prone to acquiring viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. The mosquito-spread avipoxvirus is the most common disease in cardinals. Lesions from pox can cause death in cardinals. Other diseases like avian cholera, aspergillosis, salmonellosis, and lethal conjunctivitis can also be fatal and affect how long cardinals live.Parasites: Mites and ticks are not just a problem for dogs and cats, but also birds like northern and vermilion cardinals. Once these creatures make their way onto a bird’s body, they can damage its feathers in no time. Nematodes and ectoparasites also damage this bird’s feathers. Avian malaria and lung lesions are caused by parasites.Accidents: All the members of the avian family are prone to accidents. These non-migratory birds fly into windows and doors quite often.Dehydration: Dehydration is a serious factor. The lifespan of a desert cardinal is most affected by dehydration. As the name suggests, this species is found in deserts where thesebirds do not have access to abundant water sources. Habitat loss and dehydration can drive this species to the brink of extinction.Food Availability: The staple food of cardinals is sunflower seeds. They also eat other foods like grains, fruits, safflower seeds, pine tree seeds, chickweed seeds, and weeds. In winter, their food sources are limited. These birds eat less food than they are need to in the winter. A food deficit causes a variety of issues like kidney failure, shrunken muscles, and low fat. All these issues together impact the lifespan of cardinals. Young birds struggle the most during the winter season.Shelter: Cardinals are small birds. They need a well-sheltered area to hide and protect themselves from predators. Predators like chipmunks and snakes often come by the nests of cardinals to hunt them. This is why cardinals prefer building their nests in thorny shrubs.What can you do to protect cardinals?Cardinals frequently visit bird feeders. Keep bird feeders and nesting boxes clean to avoid parasitic and fungal diseases.Cardinals, in order to protect themselves from predators, need to build nests in higher altitudes. This increases how long they live. How can a person help to protect cardinals? A yard should have lots of tall trees. Pet cats are a great threat to cardinals. If there are any backyard bird feeders, it is best to keep any cats indoors. Wild cats can also be a problem, so keep bird feeders in areas where wild cats cannot reach them.The winter season affects the survival of cardinals. Finding food during the winter season might not be easy for these birds. Leave a good amount of food in a bird feeder during the winter season. Dehydration is also a problem for cardinals. Place a birdbath in your yard because this will help cardinals stay hydrated. These minor efforts will make a huge difference and will help protect this bird species.Did You Know…Cardinals mate for life. In a pair, if the male cardinal dies, the female cardinal will seclude itself from other members. The female cardinal will take sometime to recover. It will find a new mate in the next breeding season. However, not all cardinals mate for life. There are a few female cardinals that mate with a few male cardinals.A cardinal bird will only use its nest once. A cardinal cannot be kept as a pet. The cardinal bird is protected under the Migratory Bird’s Act. This makes it illegal and cruel to own a cardinal.In order to communicate, male and female cardinals use chip calls. Female cardinals can sing over a dozen tunes. Pairs also sing before the breeding season.Since northern cardinals mainly feed on seeds and grains, they are classified as granivorous birds.The hopper bird feeder is one of the many bird feeders that attract cardinals. Cardinal birds may also return to the same bird feeders if you feed them well.Cardinals are generous birds. The feeding behaviors of cardinal parents have shocked everybody. Cardinals go to the extent of feeding the young birds of other bird species. Parents will also feed other animals like goldfish.
There are many cardinal species.
