northern cardinal

American  

[nawr-thern kahr-dn-l] / ˈnɔr ðərn ˈkɑr dn l /

noun

1. a distinctively crested songbird, Cardinalis cardinalis, the male of which is bright red: the most familiar cardinal in the eastern half of the United States and much of Mexico.

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Etymology

Origin of northern cardinal

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

As the environment warms, southern species such as the grass wren and the northern cardinal spread further north in search of a suitable climate.

From Science Daily • Oct. 4, 2023

Then other birds, like the northern cardinal and the goldfinch.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2023

Shortly after a bright red northern cardinal winged into the Ohio feeder for the second time in two minutes and stuffed its beak, I sent its photo to the family text thread.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2023

The roster from 2016: “tufted titmouse, Carolina chickadee, Carolina wren, eastern bluebird, northern mockingbird, northern cardinal, eastern towhee.”

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2019

Official state bird: northern cardinal You know how parents say that thing, “if everybody can’t have it, then nobody can have it”?

From Slate • May 17, 2013