CARDINAL


Meaning of CARDINAL in English

n.

or redbird

Songbird ( Cardinalis cardinalis , family Fringillidae or Emberizidae) of North America, primarily east of the Rocky Mountains.

It is 8 in. (20 cm) long and has a pointed crest. The male is bright red, the female a duller red or olive-brown. Pairs of cardinals utter loud, clear whistling notes year-round in gardens and open woodlands. They feed on insects, wild seeds, and fruits. Cardinals are especially abundant in the southeastern U.S. and have been introduced into Hawaii, southern California, and Bermuda. Related species also called cardinals live in South America.

Male northern cardinal ( Cardinalis cardinalis ).

Stephen Collins

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.