Return of Bird of the Week: Red-crested Cardinal

Molting Red-crested Cardinal, Pantanal, Brazil

Not all tanagers are called “Tanagers,” and, for that matter, not all birds called “Cardinals” are in fact cardinals. Common names don’t always fit well to the systematics of birds. The Red-crested Cardinal is, in fact, a member of the family Thraupidae, along with all those tanagers. Earlier classifications, based upon appearance, had it as a cardinal, but molecular genetic work in the early 21st century determined it was in the core group of tanagers.

Most of WC’s readers who are familiar with the species know it from the Hawaiian Islands, where it was introduced on Oahu in 1928. It has since spread to all of the islands. It was also introduced in Puerto Rico. It also is a popular cage bird, and escaped populations are established in Japan and Taiwan, as well as Venezuela, Peru, and Chile. In its native range, it’s found in Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina. Within that range, it’s most common in semi-open areas with shrubs and scattered trees and second-growth scrub.

It forages primarily on seeds, but will take insects if given the opportunity, foraging on the ground and in low trees and shrubs in pairs or small groups. In breeding season, it is highly territorial; outside of breeding season, it is gregarious and is most commonly seen in groups.

Red-crested Cardinals are monogamous through the breeding season. Both the male and female build a nest in the middle story of a tree, usually but not always on a forest edge. There are an average of 3 eggs, incubated solely by the female for 11-13 days. The hatchlings remain in the nest for another 13-15 days, fed by both parents. After fledging, the fledglings are guarded by and fed by the male.

Survivorship is about 26%, surprising low, but then a mated pair can raise up to four broods in a single breeding season.

Red-crested Cardinals are frequent victims of nest parasitism by Shiny Cowbird and Guira Cuckoos. Red-crested Cardinals are remarkably adept at identifying Shiny Cowbird eggs left in their nest and much less skilled at identifying Guira Cuckoo eggs.

Banded Red-crested Cardinals have been documented to 9 years old, but average age post-fledging is something like 3.9 years.

As anyone who has been to Hawaii knows, this species adapts well to human disturbance, so long as forested areas are left for breeding. Because of its very wide range, fecundity and tolerance for disturbance, the IUCN classifies the Red-crested Cardinal as a species of Least Concern. While it is the most common species intercepted in the captive bird trade, so far that has had no impact on populations.

For more bird photographs, please visit WC’s bird photo site, Frozen Feather Images.