Northern Cardinal Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song (Common)
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New York, April 03, 2018Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song (Common)
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New York, April 12, 2015Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Song (Common)
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New York, March 17, 2019Recorded by Glen Chapman / Macaulay Library
Song (Common)
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Maryland, April 26, 2000Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Duet (Common)
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Wisconsin, July 07, 1984Recorded by Sylvia L. Halkin / Macaulay Library
Calls (Common)
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New Mexico, February 16, 2020Recorded by Bob Nieman / Macaulay Library
Calls (Common)
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New York, April 19, 2020Recorded by Brad Walker / Macaulay Library
Calls (Common)
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New York, June 19, 2018Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls (Common)
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New York, April 15, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Juvenile calls (Common)
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New York, September 04, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song (Long-crested)
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Oaxaca, April 06, 2013Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Song (Long-crested)
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Oaxaca, April 06, 2019Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls (Long-crested)
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Oaxaca, April 03, 2013Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Both male and female Northern Cardinals sing. The song is a loud string of clear down-slurred or two-parted whistles, often speeding up and ending in a slow trill. The songs typically last 2 to 3 seconds. Syllables can sound like the bird is singing cheer, cheer, cheer or birdie, birdie, birdie. Males in particular may sing throughout the year, though the peak of singing is in spring and early summer.

Calls

Scientists have described at least 16 different calls for the Northern Cardinal, but the one you’ll hear most commonly is a loud, metallic chip. Cardinals make this call when warning off intruders to their territory, when predators are near, as females approach their nests, and by both sexes as they carry food to the nest or when trying to get nestlings to leave the nest. When one member of a pair is about to feed the other, either bird may make a softer took note.