Learn more about everything Cardinal Health is doing to combat the crisis of opioid misuse in America and to keep the nation's pharmaceutical supply chain secure. Cardinal, any of various medium-size thick-billed species of songbirds of the New World, many with crested heads. The males all sport at least some bright red plumage.

Context Explanation

In the United States, the northern cardinal (referred to as just "cardinal") is the mascot of numerous athletic teams; however, most teams portray the bird with a yellow beak and legs. The male Northern Cardinal is unmistakable, our only red bird with a crest (compare to tanagers). The female is duller, but shares a crest, a massive pink bill, and a rather long tail. The brilliant red of a male Northern Cardinal calls attention to itself when males are around.

Insight Material

You can also find cardinals by getting a sense of the warm, red-tinged brown of females – a pattern you can learn to identify in flight. Meet the recognizable and beloved northern cardinal. Get cardinal bird facts, including why male cardinals are red, and where cardinals live. Since the 12th century, cardinal has been used as a noun referring to a fundamentally important clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church, ranking only below the pope. The cardinal is a family of medium and large-sized songbirds endemic to North and South America.

Final Conclusion

They inhabit many habitats, from forests to scrublands, and many species in North America migrate south for the winter.