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State Bird Of Virginia

Northern Cardinal Is The Official State Bird Of Virginia. Virginia adopted the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as the official state bird in 1950. The General Assembly chose the northern cardinal as the Virginia State Bird because of its bright plumage and cheerful song. Cardinals Are One of America’s Favorite Backyard birds and are the state bird in seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The cardinal is part of the finch family.

State Bird Of Virginia Cardinals is also known as cardinal-grosbeaks and cardinal-buntings. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae. The State Bird male cardinal is bright red with black around the beak and eyes and The female is pale gray-brown with a faint red tinge. Both Virginia State Bird male and female can be identified by the large, pointed crest on the head. A cardinal has a thick beak, too. Virginia State Bird Cardinals live in West Virginia all year. It is a beautiful sight to see a bright red cardinal against a snowy background in winter. They live in forest edges, thickets, parks, gardens, and suburban areas.

Cardinals are even found in our large cities. In spring, the female and male work together to build the nest of grasses, bark, vines, sticks and other plant materials. State Bird Of Virginia Cardinals makes their loose, cup-shaped nest in shrubs, bushes, and thickets. The nest of Northern Cardinal is usually placed from three to 20 feet above the ground. The female Cardinal lays two to five pale, blue-white eggs. The eggs have red-brown speckles. Northern Cardinals can raise more than one brood in a year. 

 

Identification General description: 

Family: Cardinalidae, Cardinals

Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis

Size: 8 – 9 inches

Diet: Primarily insects, but also seeds & fruit

Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets, suburban gardens, towns, swamps

Color: The color of Male cardinals are bright red, with a black face and chin. Females are gray-brown on the back, light tan on the breast, with bright pink highlights on the wings, tail, and crest. A female cardinal’s bill is bright orange-red

Range: Resident in eastern and central North America. Populations have spread to the west coast as well

Migration: Non-migratory

Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)

Longevity Record: 15 Years and 9 months

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