In Alabama during: Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cardinalis cardinalis
STATUS: Common in all seasons and regions. Lowest Conservation Concern.
DESCRIPTION: Northern cardinals are a medium-sized songbird well known for their brilliant red coloration and beautiful songs. Males are nearly all brilliant red in color with a coral red, conical shaped bill that is surrounded by a black mask. Legs and feet of the cardinal are reddish black and their wings are short and rounded. Cardinals also have a long tail and a distinctive crest of feathers that adorns the top of their heads. Approximate length is eight to nine inches and average weight of adult cardinals is one to two ounces. The female cardinal is a buff brown with red on their crest, wings, and tail. The bill of the female is also surrounded by a black mask. Immature cardinals resemble the female, but have a gray-black rather than a coral red bill.
