How Long Do Cardinal Birds Live?

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There may be no more recognizable backyard bird than the northern cardinal—the vivid red plumage, black face mask, and pointed head crest of a male cardinal makes it impossible to mistake for any other bird. These colorful songbirds love to visit bird feeders, making them a common sight across much of the eastern half of the United States and parts of Mexico. You might have wondered: How long do cardinals live, and do the same birds visit your feeders year after year? Here are the answers!

Cardinal Bird Lifespan

The average northern cardinal lifespan is around three years, though some live much longer. In fact, the oldest recorded cardinal was a female who was 15 years and 9 months old when she was found in Pennsylvania. Another long-lived female was recorded for eight straight years by biologist Eric Lind at Constitution Marsh in New York. Lind noted that this bird was particularly feisty when caught, perhaps a clue to her longer-than-average lifespan!

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Cardinal Life History

Cardinals begin mating in the spring, staying together throughout the breeding season. They often produce two broods each season, with the second in early summer, and those in areas with favorable conditions may breed a third time.

Baby northern cardinals begin their lives as helpless naked hatchlings in the nest, usually with several other brothers or sisters. Their parents bring them food, mainly insects, for one to two weeks until the nestlings are strong enough to fledge.

Once they leave the nest, cardinals join their parents in foraging for food in low foliage or on the ground, looking for seeds, fruit, and insects. They also regularly visit feeders for black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, and sometimes suet.

Over the next month or so, they slowly gain more independence. In winter, cardinals may join mixed flocks with other songbirds, but during breeding season they usually travel in mated pairs.

What Risk Factors Threaten Cardinals?

Overall, cardinal populations across their range are strong, but individual birds do face threats from predators, diseases, and other causes. These are some of the most common.

Predators

Like most songbirds, cardinals have a wide variety of predators. Cardinal eggs and nestlings may be preyed on by snakes, jays, squirrels, and chipmunks. As adults, these songbirds may be attacked by shrikes or birds of prey like hawks, falcons, and owls. Protect birds in your yard against attacks by providing plenty of cover like thick shrubbery they can hide in, especially close to your feeders.

Domestic and feral housecats are also major predators; in fact, cats are believed to kill 1.3 to 4 billion birds every year, cardinals among them. Position your feeders so roaming outdoor cats can’t ambush birds, and keep house pets indoors or in screened-in “catios.”

Diseases and Parasites

Avian conjunctivitis is most common in house finches, but can spread to cardinals. Affected birds have crusty or runny eyes that may even be swollen shut. If you notice birds with these disease symptoms at your feeders, take them down immediately, discard the bird seed, and clean and disinfect the feeders with a 10% bleach solution.

Cardinals and other songbirds can also host parasites like mites and lice. Large infestations can kill young birds or cause adults to abandon a nest.

Why Do Some Cardinals Have Bald Black Heads?

You may sometimes see cardinals with bald heads, which can be alarming because these birds have black skin. Usually, this is temporary and caused by an issue during molting, and the feathers will eventually grow back.

Do the Same Cardinals Return to Your Yard Year After Year?

Cardinals do not migrate—they remain in the same territory year-round. That means it’s likely you’re seeing many of the same birds at your feeders for months or years!