Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Cardinals are found all over, from the East coast of North America west to the Rocky Mountains, and all over the South. The cardinal is a mid-sized bird between 8 and 9 inches long with a wingspan of 10-12 inches. The males are bright red with a red bill and a black face right behind the bill. Females are more muted in color, pale brown with red tints in the wings, tail, and crest of the head. They are found in dense shrubby areas where there is lots of cover and potential nesting sites. Often these are located in forest edges, grasslands, parks, or landscaping that provides the type of cover they are looking for. These birds are low feeders, foraging for food either on or near the ground. They eat mostly seeds, fruit, and insects.