FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(593) Cardinalis cardinalis 



cardinalis (l;„„.i 

 CARDINAL; VIRGINIA RED- 

 BIRD. Bill very stout and conical 

 Ad. cP — A rich red, rather ros\ 

 on the back, wings, tail and undci 

 parts, brightening to vermilion on the 

 breast and sides of head; face and 

 throat black. Ad. 9 — As shown by 

 the upper bird; ashy-brown with 

 traces of red on crest, wings and tail 

 L., 8.50; W., 3.75; T., 4.50; B., 70, 

 Tar., .95. Nest — Of twigs, rootlets 

 and bark; in bushes; three or tour 

 bluish-white eggs, spotted with red- 

 dish-brown, 1. 00 X .73. 



Range — From N. Y., Ont., Ind. 

 and la. southward. Casual in Mass., 

 Mich., Wis. and Minn. (S93d) 

 FLORIDA CARDINAL (C. c. flori- 

 danus). Brighter colored. Florida. 



throated species found commonly in chaparral in the Transi- 

 tion zones of the Western States. They are more musical, 

 having longer and more brilliant songs than any others of 

 the towhees. They are typical ground or brush birds, 

 scratching for their food almost as vigorously as Fox Spar- 

 rows, whose song their own vocal efforts quite closely resem- 

 ble. They rarely appear above the level of the tops of low 

 brush except to sing or for short flights. 



CARDINALS are magnificent birds whose commanding 

 notes and brilliant plumage would attract attention any- 

 where. They are rather shy, consequently their voices are 

 heard much oftener than the birds are seen. While thickets 

 and dense underbrush appear to be their favorite resorts, 

 they also appear about dwellings and find nesting places in 

 vines, shrubs, or trellises. Their homes are quite easily dis- 

 covered for most of them have very little concealment; in- 

 deed, they are often constructed quite in the open, especially 

 those made early in the season, in April almost before leaves 



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