Northern Cardinals are among the most recognized and popular bird species, but if we’re honest, it’s not the less flamboyant females most people hold in their mind’s eye. It’s the fiery, red-bodied males that stand out. I confess to favoring them for photos, so after posting many shots of male cardinals, I’m here to show some love for female cardinals. Remember, without these toned-down ladies in camo, there would be no bright red males!
Captured by Eric F. Frazier, January 19, 2025. Canon R5mII, RF200-800mm, 800mm, f9, 0ev, 1/640s, ISO5000, handheld.
Female birds are often larger and/or colored differently than their male counterparts. Being bigger helps bald eagles manage mating, for example. Female colors and markings help camouflage mothers sitting in the nest. I’ve come to appreciate the greater variation in appearance among female cardinals than the males, with their uniform off-the-chart hues. I’ve begun paying more attention to photographing female cardinals alone and paired (monogamously for life) with their leading actors.
Apart from appearance, what makes cardinals so popular? Northern Cardinals live year-round across fully half of the continental United States. Their range stretches from the Canadian border through most of Mexico. They neither migrate nor change appearance seasonally, which increases their familiarity. Seven U.S. states designate the cardinal as their official state bird, including North Carolina.
Female Cardinals Snubbed?
But if you look up those states to see a photo of the bird they have designated, the images are invariably of males—like the male-dominated photos of the elected bodies who decide such things. This bias toward bird beauty is not malicious, but we should never forget that behind each flaming red male cardinal, are female mothers, partners and offspring all playing key roles in cardinal life.
Unlike most North American songbird species, cardinal females sing, often sharing tunes with her partner. And males courting females may feed them by mouth—the sign of a good provider, I suppose. That’s a shot I’m watching for and will definitely share, if I get one.
