Northern Cardinal - West Virginia's State Bird

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was adopted as West Virginia's state bird in 1949.

The Cardinal is named after the Roman Catholic Cardinals who wear red robes. Also, the bird's crest, to some, resembles the bishop's hat, called a mitre. They have been called "Redbirds" and "Virginia Nightinggales."

The male Cardinal is bright red, while the female is a fawn color with a reddish tint to their wings, tails and crests, and have red beaks.

The Cardinal's range goes from the east coast of the United states, from Maine to Nebraska, in the north to Canada and in the south from south Arizona, New Mexico and down to Baja-California to Mexico. They primarily reside in forests, swamps, suburbs, gardens and thickets. Their diet primarily consists of seeds, grains and fruits.

The Cardinal is the state bird of more states than any other species of bird, being the state bird of North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia, and in North America, the Cardinal is also often a symbol of Christmas, being featured on many Christmas cards.