The cardinal is a beautiful bird found in North America. It is an , medium-sized bird that is often found in , parks, and even cities. The male is red with a black mask and small . The female is light brown with red feathers on her crest and wings. Both the male and female have thick bills for seeds! Cardinals are of the finch family. Males and females mate for life and often stay in the same area year-round.

Did you know that the cardinal is the bird of seven different states? Two professional sports teams are called the "cardinals," and college sports teams are called the "cardinals."