Today’s post features a pair of Northern Cardinals that I photographed right here in Arkansas, near my bird feeder, on March 31st, 2024.
Every year, a cardinal couple makes my yard their nesting ground – I know this because I always see their fledglings flitting around later in the season [Northern Cardinal Fledgling].
Here’s a fun little routine I’ve observed: The female cardinal is the braver one, always checking things out from a nearby tree before swooping down to the feeder. The male, on the other hand, takes his sweet time. He usually scouts for dropped seeds on the ground while the female gets straight to business.
The photos I’m sharing shows each of them perched on the branch my feeder hangs from.
It seems these cardinals are practically everywhere you look in Arkansas. A quick web search revealed that the Northern Cardinal population here is thriving, even expanding its range.
Speaking of range, this striking red bird is a common sight throughout Arkansas. They’re particularly abundant in the central and eastern regions, but their range stretches down to Mexico and even reaches as far as Hawaii.
Interestingly, the Northern Cardinal holds the record for most state bird titles, with a whopping seven states claiming it as their official avian ambassador: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Here in Arkansas, we have the Northern Mockingbird representing us. Though, fun fact – before the University of Arkansas’ mascot became the Razorbacks, their teams were known as the Cardinals!
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of a local cardinal couple. Keep your eyes peeled next time you’re outside – you might just spot a flash of red yourself!