the male northern cardinal is a mid-sized songbird. it has a distinctive crest on the head and a mask on the face

animal american ecosystem habitats seasons states spring forest park thicket timber wood woodland backwoods woods grove wilderness timberland forrest woodlands wooded habitat virgin biosphere feeding seeds garden feeder breeds adults face wings adult males bill females tinge bird breeding plumage perch species birders melodious song seed birds territory head male vibrant feeds insects black gray territorially courtship clutch eggs laid clutches agricultural fields roadsides towns northern cardinal mid-sized songbird distinctive crest mask reddish olive red migratory songbird red color granivorous fruit territorially marking song courtship laid