All About Cardinals and How To Attract Them?

Without a doubt, Northern Cardinals are America's Favorite Songbird. They are the state bird of 7 different states and are one of the most recognizable birds in the world. What are the keys to attracting the Northern Cardinal to your feeders.
Safflower Seed: tinyurl.com/yc8eyzd7
Sunflower Seed: tinyurl.com/3k858aaa
Hopper & Tray Feeders: tinyurl.com/y9px6vm8
Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 35 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at backyardbirdcenter.com/about-...
#marksbackyardbirds, #attractingcardinals, #redbirds
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MORE INFORMATION
Contact: [e-mail]
Cover photo of a male Northern Cardinal by Paul Ruehle
Summer Tanager male by Annette Talbot
Scarlet Tanager male by Steve Dillinger
Dickcissel by Carrie Wadlow
Indigo Bunting by Brian Voorhees
Northern Cardinal female by Mary Nemecek
"Bald" Northern Cardinal male by Judy Farris
Cardinal pair at nest by Linda Williams
Juvenile Northern Cardinal by Mary Nemecek
Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.
Mark's Amazon store:
www.amazon.com/shop/marksback...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:52 Sexual Dimorphism
03:39 Diet
10:22 Hidden Ovulation

[@eileenspamer-kw3kz]

hi again its granny eileen, from uk i have small flock wood pidgeon one with disabled leg but she has managed all summer hopping , i always make sure they have clean water,/seed. im housebound so love watching the birds i also have an old collie Jenny age 15, and 4 pet mice sisters, with me 24/7 i huge perspex rodent house , they wake me up at 4 am playing on their wheel they are funny little clowns

[@eileenspamer-kw3kz]

beautiful photos from uk granny who loves feeding /watching

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@eileenspamer-kw3kz Welcome!

[@kathydvorak3075]

Thanks for the great information on cardinals!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

You are so welcome! Thanks for tuning in.

[@jessicajaynenc1202]

Great video . Not only are they my state bird , my sons school mascot but My neighborhood is literally called “Cardinal Village “ and trust me , it’s well deserved haha . They are most certainly my most frequent visitor at my feeders. I’ve grown to like the appearance of the females more as of late . I’ve learned lots of fascinating things about their mating . And it shows when I’m birdwatching, because nine times out of ten , they travel in couples . It’s cute . Yesterday I couldn’t help but notice some male cardinals tussling about in the trees . I’m going to assume they’re fighting it out over territory?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks. I would assume it was over territory. Territories should be breaking down soon for you.

[@beneaththewillowtree2818]

Nice video

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you. Glad you liked it!!

[@camdengaliote3586]

Cool video Mark! I get cardinals at my feeder frequently throughout the day. I feed straight black oil sunflower seeds in a tray feeder, and they seem to love it. I have to ask, do they have a preference of either the black oil sunflower, or the safflower seed? Which would you say is their favorite?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I think that depends on the feeder situation. There is less activity on straight safflower and I think cardinals like that. As far as true preference, from experience, I give the slight advantage to safflower.

[@camdengaliote3586]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Thanks!

[@Salmiyaguy1]

I tend to feel sorry for people who don't live in the Cardinals range. my friends in Vancouver are suffering.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I agree. Years ago I was near the bird feeder viewing window of my nature center and heard a lady squeal. I hurried over to see if she was OK and she said "what is that gorgeous red bird?" She was from northern Idaho and had never seen one.

[@richt4297]

Just found your channel recently and am enjoying the content. If there was any way you could get a few mins of peace & quiet to make your videos I think they would get alot more thumbs up. Maybe a new mic would help. When watching your videos I have to turn my TV up to 100, I don't normally go past 30. Couple things that may help your channel, not trying to troll you by any means.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you and welcome to the channel. This video and a few others are older. They were filmed before I improved my equipment. Newer videos are much better quality. Sorry for these poorer videos but we all had to start somewhere.

[@robertw.7302]

Thanks for the info Mark! I didn't know cardinals are in the grosbeak family but it makes sense due to beak shape. Cardinals are often feeding baby cowbirds in their nest, hopefully that doesn't impact their population numbers much? Do you know anything about that? Thanks again, great shirt you're wearing!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks, cardinals are not great at hiding their nests thus they are frequent victims of cowbird parasitism. Here is my cowbird video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYDFaqiLrNSEqqc

[@robertw.7302]

@@MarksBackyardBirds thanks for the link, another great and informative video.

[@bonnietischendorf7848]

Mark I cant find a snap on tray for my Perkypet tube feeder

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Unfortunately, Perky-Pet feeders with come with a tray or not. I’m not aware of any that they make to add later

[@oliviahoward8615]

It's mid March here in North Alabama and I see two male chasing each other around the yard and I see only one female. Also I see at least one male year round.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Love is in the air. There are always young males looking to challenge for breeding territory.

[@adriennelee6065]

great video! I'm curious why cardinals don't have a winter colour change, like most over-wintering birds (American goldfinches come to mind) - if they're non-migratory, why do they stay bright red when all their cover disappears and they're left sticking out like a sore thumb?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Moulting feathers is very taxing on the body. Goldfinches are very unique with there two complete molts a year. They have to count on life in shady places most of the day

[@jcwilkinson2012]

I see you wore your "cardinal" shirt.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

More than a happy coincidence!

[@allendarr5102]

what height should a cardinal bird feeder be at besides on the ground? 4' ?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

We recommend all feeders and houses to be at least 4 to 4.5ft off of the ground to protect them from ground predators like feral cats. While cardinals do like to feed on the ground a good flat tray mounted up in the air works as well.

[@allendarr5102]

@@MarksBackyardBirds thanks for the info. Just found your channel and enjoy it very much.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Welcome. Glad you like the channel.

[@juliac3933]

Do cardinals ever have “harems”? I always see multiple females but only ever 1 male.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Actually, the females are quite territorial. But, unpaired females are always lurking awaiting their opportunity. There is a lot of “cheating “ in the bird world.

[@jpfrank3362]

You talked the whole time.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Yes. My channel is a teaching channel.