# Red-Crested Cardinal (*paroaria coronata*) The Red-Crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) is a striking, charismatic songbird known for its fiery red head and crisp white underparts. Native to the semi-open areas, shrublands, and river thickets of southern South America—including Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay—this bird has also become a deeply familiar sight in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, where it was introduced in the early 20th century. With its prominent crest and melodic, whistling song, it brings a vibrant splash of color and sound to both wild thickets and urban parks. Interestingly, despite its striking resemblance to North American cardinals and its shared common name, the Red-Crested Cardinal is not actually a cardinal at all. Modern genetic research places it firmly within the tanager family (Thraupidae). They are highly social and adaptable birds, often seen foraging enthusiastically on lawns or the ground in pairs or small family groups. Their vivid appearance and confiding nature make them a favorite among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts across their native and introduced ranges. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Found in semi-open shrublands and woodland edges, often foraging on the ground near water sources. ![Red-Crested Cardinal](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/445222630/medium.jpeg) Photo: David F. Belmonte, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/445222630) ## Appearance The Red-Crested Cardinal is easily identified by its brilliant red head, face, throat, and prominent, pointed crest, which contrasts sharply with its crisp white breast, belly, and collar. The upperparts, including the back, wings, and tail, are a sleek, solid grey. It possesses a stout, pale silvery-grey, conical bill perfectly shaped for cracking tough seeds. Males and females share this striking plumage, making them visually identical in the field, but juveniles can be easily distinguished by having a muted, rusty-brown or dull orange head and crest instead of the adult's vivid red. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Thraupidae - **Genus:** Paroaria ## Interesting facts - Despite its common name and crest, the Red-Crested Cardinal is not a true cardinal; it belongs to the tanager family (Thraupidae). - Introduced to Oahu in 1928, the bird thrived and has become one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous birds across the Hawaiian Islands. - They are notoriously fierce defenders of their territory and have been known to aggressively attack their own reflections in windows and car mirrors. - Unlike many true cardinals where only the male boasts bright colors, male and female Red-Crested Cardinals have identical, vibrant plumage. ## Special abilities - **Seed-Cracking Beak:** Possesses a specialized, stout, and conical beak designed to exert high pressure for husking and cracking tough seeds. - **Melodic Whistling:** Produces a clear, sweet, and highly varied whistling song used primarily by males to establish and defend territory. - **Crest Communication:** Uses its prominent red crest to signal mood, raising it fully when alarmed, excited, or displaying aggression. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 17-19 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-28 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.04 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days ## Diet & Feeding The Red-Crested Cardinal relies heavily on seeds and plant matter, but actively supplements its diet with insects and small fruits. - **Age differences:** Nestlings are fed an almost exclusively insect-based diet for high protein during growth, shifting toward seeds as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Insects, Small berries, Arthropods, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Host plant:** Desert Hackberry (*Celtis ehrenbergiana*) — A native tree species that provides both nesting habitat and a source of fruits and insects. - **Parasite:** Shiny Cowbird (*Molothrus bonariensis*) — A brood parasite that occasionally lays its eggs in the nests of Red-Crested Cardinals. - **Competitor:** [Saffron Finch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saffron-finch) (*Sicalis flaveola*) — A ground-foraging bird that frequently competes for similar seed resources in open grassy areas. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-Crested Cardinal? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-Crested Cardinal? 17-19 cm ### What is Red-Crested Cardinal's wingspan? 25-28 cm ### How much does Red-Crested Cardinal weigh? 0.03-0.04 kg ### How long does Red-Crested Cardinal live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Red-Crested Cardinal move? 40 km/h ### What does Red-Crested Cardinal eat? The Red-Crested Cardinal relies heavily on seeds and plant matter, but actively supplements its diet with insects and small fruits. ### Where is Red-Crested Cardinal usually found? Found in semi-open shrublands and woodland edges, often foraging on the ground near water sources. ## Where to spot - [Allerton Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allerton-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Kahanu Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kahanu-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Lahaina Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lahaina-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Lyon Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyon-arboretum) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Waimea Valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waimea-valley) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaka-i-wilderness-preserve) — Hawaii, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Red-Crested Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-crested-cardinal) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red-Crested Cardinal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-crested-cardinal)