Kentucky State Bird
Northern Cardinal

• Official Kentucky State Bird: Northern Cardinal
• American Ornithologists' Union Common Name: Northern Cardinal
• Also Know As: Red Bird
• Family: Cardinalidae, Cardinals
• Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
• Length: 8.75" (22 cm)
• Diet: Primarily insects, but also seeds & fruit.
• Voice: Listen to Northern Cardinal Song (recorded by Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Song a series of high, clear, sharp, mostly slurred whistles woit woit woit woit chew chew chew chew chew or pichew pichew tiw tiw tiw tiw tiw; many variations. Call a high, hard  tik; also a softer, rising twik.
• Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets, suburban gardens, towns, swamps.
• Displays: Male and female with outstretched necks and erect crests sway bodies from side to side while singing softly.
• Number of broods: 2, 3, occasionally 4 broods.
• Nest: In bramble thickets or tree saplings, 1-15' above ground; compact and well lined to flimsy and scarcely lined; of weed stems, pliable twigs, bark strips, grass rootlets, with leaves and paper interwoven, lined with fine grass, hair.
• Eggs: Averages 3-4 grayish-, bluish-, greenish-white eggs, marked with browns, grays, purples. 1.0" (25 mm).
• Incubation period: 12-13 days
• Fledge: 9-10 days after hatching
• Longevity Record: 15 Years and 9 months (according to USGS Bird Banding Lab) 

The Cardinal became the State Bird of Kentucky during the legislative session in 1926 [KY Acts, Chapter 350, Senate Resolution No. 17; recodified in 1942 (KRS 2.080)].

Cardinals are considered one of America's favorite backyard birds and is the State Bird of six other states besides Kentucky: Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Kentucky State Bird Books

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