Northern Cardinal
Northern CardinalNorthern CardinalNorthern CardinalNorthern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
80–90% · Very likely
overall probability at Shenandoah National Park
14,522 Verified records at Shenandoah National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), also commonly known as the common cardinal, red cardinal, or simply cardinal, is a bird in the genus Cardinalis. It can be found in southeastern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Minnesota to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, southern California and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. It is also an introduced species in a few locations such as Bermuda and all major islands of Hawaii since its introduction in 1929. Its habitat includes woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and wetlands. It is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The northern cardinal is a mid-sized perching songbird with a body length of 21–23 cm (8.3–9.1 in) and a crest on the top of its head. Wikipedia →

80–90% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Cardinal sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 14,522 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Shenandoah National Park

Indigo Bunting
LC

Indigo Bunting

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina cyanea

20–30% · Possible
Scarlet Tanager
LC

Scarlet Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga olivacea

10–20% · With luck
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
LC

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus ludovicianus

5–10% · Rare
Western Tanager
LC

Western Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga ludoviciana

Insufficient data
Blue Grosbeak
LC

Blue Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina caerulea

<5% · Rare
Summer Tanager
LC

Summer Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga rubra

<5% · Rare
Dickcissel
LC

Dickcissel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spiza americana

Insufficient data
Painted Bunting
LC

Painted Bunting

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina ciris

Insufficient data
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

80–90% · Very likely
Tufted Titmouse
LC

Tufted Titmouse

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Baeolophus bicolor

70–80% · Very likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

70–80% · Very likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely

📅 Monthly Probability

80–90
Jan
80–90
Feb
90–100
Mar
90–100
Apr
80–90
May
80–90
Jun
80–90
Jul
70–80
Aug
80–90
Sep
80–90
Oct
80–90
Nov
80–90
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
80–90%
2 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
80–90%
3 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
80–90%
4 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
70–80%
5 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
6 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
7 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
8 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
30–40%
9 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
10 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
11 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
12 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
13 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
14 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
15 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
16 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
17 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
19 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
20 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
21 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
22 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
23 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
24 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
25 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
26 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Northern Cardinal in Shenandoah National Park?

About 84% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Cardinal sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 14,522 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Northern Cardinal in Shenandoah National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Northern Cardinal in Shenandoah National Park in our monthly data.

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