530 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



240. Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). (593) 



Synonyms: Cardinal Grosbeak, Virginia Cardinal, Kentucky Cardinal, Ked-bird, 

 Crested Red-bird. — Loxia cardinalis, Linn., 1758. — Fringilla cardinalis, Bonap., Nutt., 

 And. — Cardinalis cardinalis, A. O. U. Check-list, 1886, and most subsequent writers. — 

 Cardinalis virginianus, Baird, 1858, and most authors until 1886. 



Mainly brilliant reel, a small area about the base of the bill, and running 

 down the throat, black. A high, pointed crest like that of the Blue Jay. 

 l^ill red. Female similar, but much duller, even ashy, washed with red, 

 the reddish tint brightest on chest, wings and tail. 



Distribution. — Eastern United States, north to the Lower Hudson 

 Valley and the Great Lakes, casually farther north, and west to the Plains. 



In Michigan the Cardinal appears to be a rather rare species, mainly 

 confined to the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, and probably most 

 frequently met with in the three lower tiers of counties. Contrary to the 

 usual impression, this bird is resident wherever found, and since it changes 

 its plumage but little with season it is much more conspicuous during 

 winter and so by far the larger number of records are made in winter. 

 There is some evidence to show that it has extended its range northward 

 during the last dozen years. At all events, it had never been recorded 

 from Ingham county until February 1899, since which time it has been 

 found regularly on the campus of the Agricultural College each year, and 

 sometimes four or five individuals have wintered there. 



Each spring the birds have remained until well into Ma}"" and have been 

 quite musical; and two nests have been found. On June 6, 1903, a nest con- 

 taining two fresh eggs was found on the lower branch of a Norway spruce 

 close to the main road on the south side of the campus. Unfortunately the 

 nest was upset ])y a student surveying party and although the l)irds probably 

 nested again we did not locate the family. Another nest was found in June, 

 1911, which contained onh^ two eggs, one of which did not hatch. In spite 

 of the fact that this nest was in a slender sapling, only five feet from the 

 ground, and in plain view from a path along which hundreds of students 

 passed at all hours, the Cardinals succeeded in getting the single young 

 bird safely on the wing. Undoubtedly the Cardinal nests regularly in the 

 vicinity of the College and is attracted to the campus in winter by the 

 abimdance of evergreens, and especially by the numerous tidip trees 

 (Liriodeyidron) , on the seeds of which it feeds constantly during cold 

 weather. 



Apparently the species is not common anywhere in the state, but a pair 

 or two have been reported from St. Clair county (Swales and Taverner), 

 Jackson county (Mrs. C'ami)l)ell), Kalamazoo (Dr. (Jil)bs, W. Wilkowski), 

 Olivet (H. L." Clark), Battle Creek, (N. Y. Green), Petersburg, Monroe 

 county, nesting (Trombley), Hillsdale county (A. H. Boies, T. L. Hank- 

 inson), Ann Arbor (Covert, Wood, Cole), Bangor, Van Buren county (F. 

 H. Shuver), Detroit (Swales, Taverner, J. Claire Wood), Grand Rapids 

 (R. H. Wolcott), Forestville, Sanilac county (Albert Ilirzel), Ikulah, Benzie 

 county (W. M. Wolfe). Reports from the Upper Peninsula probably 

 relate to the Scarlet Tanager, yet the l)ird is strong of wing, and perfectly 

 hardy at any latitude. 



The nest is commonly placed in an evergreen tree or in some thick tangle 

 of vines, and is built of fine twigs, weed stems, grape vine bark, and similar 

 material, making a basket-like structure which is lined with fine roots, 



