About North Carolina's State Bird

The cardinal is the official state bird for North Carolina. This popular bird is also the state bird for many other states in the same region. Cardinals are easy to spot throughout the state, and are beautiful birds to watch thanks to their brightly colored feathers.

The majestic cardinal is the state bird of North Carolina. These birds are part of the North Carolina landscape year round and are easy to spot.

History of the State Bird

By the beginning of the 1940s most states had an official state bird. North Carolina did not. The North Carolina Bird Club created a poll to be distributed throughout the state asking the residents to choose a favorite bird. The cardinal got first billing in this poll, followed by the dove and chickadee. The results of the poll were used to draft a bill asking the local government to recognize the bird as the official state bird. By the middle of March 1943 the bird choice became official.

Identifying the Cardinal

A cardinal is identifiable with the size and color of the bird. An adult male cardinal has bright red feathers. The head is generally outlined in black or gray. They are small to medium sized birds. A female cardinal doesn't have the same bright red plumage. Instead they have gray feathers with an orange to red tuft on top of their heads. They are still colorful, just not as deep red as the males. Both sexes have flat orange beaks.

Other Names

The cardinal is often called a winter redbird. Cardinals don't leave the area for winter, so they are commonly seen during the colder months with other species have migrated.