Northern Cardinal   male

Cardinalis cardinalis

photo by John Borom

This nonmigratory species is common throughout the year on the Alabama coast.

It lives around woodland edges, swamps and streamside thickets.

Northern Cardinal      female

C ardinalis cardinalis

photo by John Borom

Cardinals are primarily seed and fruit eaters. In particular, fruits of dogwood, American beautyberry,

sugarberry, poison ivy, and holly are eaten , but they also will eat insects when feeding their young.