Male Northern Cardinal (photo by Arlene Koziol)
Has there ever been a more iconic bird than the cardinal? Ok maybe the Bald Eagle. But so many people have such a special connection with cardinals because of the way they remind us of loved ones. Know what I mean? “When cardinals are here, angels are near” is a common and endearing phrase. The sight of cardinals means a lot to a lot of people!
They are also just awesome in their own right. The male’s bright red coloring and female’s olive colors (with pink arm pits! Did you know that?!) are so beautiful together, especially in the white snowfall of winter. They’re a common, neighborhood-friendly, year-round residents in Wisconsin, so we have the pleasure of seeing and hearing them throughout the year.
Female Northern Cardinal spreads her wings and shows off her pink armpits! (photo by Terry Nelson FCC)
Northern Cardinal male singing (photo by Arlene Koziol)
But, let’s set all that visual stuff aside. Because the Northern Cardinal has some really amazing and note-worthy sounds! Males sing year round, females do some singing as well, and all cardinals make noises galore.
Song:
Northern Cardinals are very common throughout neighborhoods, parks, and woods, though you won’t hear them much in grasslands. Some folks think their song sounds like “cheer-cheer-cheer-purty-purty-purty” or “birdie-birdie-birdie”. Other people think it sounds like Star Wars lasers. What does it sound like to you?
Call:
Cardinals make a fast, short, very high-pitched “chip” note as an alarm — humans, predators, or intruders are nearby. Kerry Wilcox, the volunteer who teaches the Birding by Ear class, says “Lately I've decided that Cardinal chip notes sound a bit like coins dropping on each other: plink!”
It’s quite a common noise that blends into the background of life, but once you start to listen for it, you might find you hear it often!
Whether you enjoy cardinals for their colors, sounds, or reminders, they’re an exceptional bird and we’re lucky to have them in such abundance! Happy birding!
Who’s That Singing? is a series designed for Birding by Ear class participants but available to anyone interested in learning more!
Written by Brenna Marsicek, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance director of outreach
