The Northern Cardinal might just be the most admired backyard bird.
Canadians are in luck that they stick around through the winter – adding a splash of colour to snowy landscapes. If you’d like to attract more cardinals to your yard, here’s how to create a sanctuary for them!
Give Them Food
If you have a birdfeeder in your backyard, you’re already on the right track! Northern Cardinals love larger seeds like sunflower and safflower, making them perfect for your feeder. Tube or tray feeders work well, but don’t be afraid to sprinkle seeds directly on the ground too. These birds have powerful beaks, so they also enjoy peanuts, cracked corn and suet to give them the energy they need to survive the colder months.
Beyond seeds, cardinals appreciate a variety of fruits and insects. Plan to add a native fruit-bearing shrub to your backyard this spring. Think serviceberry, mulberry or dogwood. In the summer, Northern Cardinals like to feed caterpillars to their young so consider planting caterpillar-friendly plants like coneflower and milkweed in the spring.
Give Them Water
Like all birds, cardinals need water for drinking and bathing! A shallow birdbath, between five to eight centimetres deep, will suit their needs perfectly. You can also add a dripper to the bath to keep the water moving. Just remember you’ll need to clean the birdbath and change the water often to keep it fresh and inviting.
Give Them a Spot to Nest
Northern Cardinals turn their beaks up to birdhouses and nesting boxes, opting to make their own cup-shaped nests. They look for dense shrubs and trees to nest in, so if your yard lacks these, consider adding a few hardy shrubs or trees to your property this spring.
Give Them a Spot to Rest
Cardinals need places to rest all year round, especially in winter. They need spots to take shelter from bad weather and also from predators! Adding hedges, evergreens or shrubs can offer them a safe refuge to rest and shelter.
Give Them a Place to Sing
Male cardinals are known for their sweet songs, and they perch on high branches to belt out their tunes. If you have tall trees in your neighbourhood, you might be treated to their cheerful songs!
Help Scientists by Watching Cardinals
Love watching cardinals? Turn your observations into valuable data for scientists! By snapping photos and uploading them to iNaturalist Canada, you can help researchers track Northern Cardinal populations and better understand their preferred habitats. It’s as simple as downloading the iNaturalist app or visiting iNaturalist.ca to share your sightings.
April Overall
April is the Editor of Wildlife Update, CWF’s e-newsletter and WILD magazine, the Canadian Wildlife Federation's children’s publication. When she’s not writing for CWF, you’ll probably find her playing with her daughter Nora.
