How Do Cardinals
Survive the Winter?

By Richard Worden

Birds flying south towards the tail end of the year is one of the easiest observable signs of the seasons changing. However, as unimaginable as this may be to some people, not all species take flight for warmer temperatures. So, how do cardinals survive the winter?

Cardinals survive the winter by sheltering together in trees, shrubbery, and thickets. They live on foods they’ve foraged for in groups. Sticking together is key to their survival, as they are among the species of birds that do not move away before winter.

The rest of the article will further discuss how cardinals survive the winter, from where they live to what they eat. Other related questions will also be answered here. So, if you want to know more about the little cardinals braving harsh winters, read this article.

Where Do Cardinals Live in the Winter?

In the winter, cardinals live in evergreens that provide insulation from cold winds and wet weather. Many live in shelters provided by people. Cardinals remain in their locations in the Northern Hemisphere, where they weather the frigid temperatures by sheltering together.

Bird lovers — or ornithophiles, as some of them fancy being called — have also taken it upon themselves to help see cardinals through the winter by providing adequate and appropriate shelters and nesting sites around their yards. 

As cardinals are year-round birds, some may have already taken up permanent residence in the yards of bird lovers long before winter. However, come the winter months, they may leave in search of other locations if the living conditions are not up to standards.

Bird lovers are reminded and encouraged to do a little more as winter approaches. This entails cleaning out old nesting sites and seeing to it that they are suitable for the long winter, adding more shelters, and increasing the daily amounts of food left on the feeder. 

When adequate food and shelter are ensured, cardinals will remain in the yards they have lived in prior to the winter months as the need to search for better resources has been effectively done away with.

Cardinals who are not so fortunate to make their homes in the relative safety and plenty of a bird lover’s yard have to make do in their natural sleeping areas, which include somewhere high up on the branches of tall trees or huddled in shrubs and thickets. Some are lucky enough to take up residence in tree cavities that offer better shelter from strong winds and snowfall.

What Do Cardinals Eat in the Winter?

Cardinals are omnivorous, and insects make up a part of their usual diet. However, come winter, these bug delicacies are in short supply, and cardinals have to survive solely on the other components of their diet, which include seeds and berries.

But seeds are at the top of the menu, and cardinals are aided in their preference for these by their downward curving bills, essentially a specialized design for efficiently cracking open seeds. 

Cardinals will feed on a variety of food sources throughout the year, but many of these will run dry in winter. Fortunately for them, two of their favorite seeds remain available during these long, cold months: sunflower seeds and safflower seeds.

• Sunflower seeds - Sunflower seeds, particularly black-oil sunflower seeds, are the cardinal’s undisputed favorite. Whether it’s because of the taste or because they know how vital these seeds are to their nutrition is up in the air. But one thing is certain: The high-calorie count and oil content of black-oil sunflower seeds suffuse cardinals with more body heat to help them weather the frigid temperatures.
• Safflower seeds - Given a choice, cardinals would prefer to go for sunflower seeds over safflower seeds. But the latter is their second favorite seed, behind only sunflower seeds, of course. Safflower seeds are not any other animal’s favorite or second favorite, for that matter. In fact, they overlook them altogether. This just means more food for the wintering cardinals. how do cardinals survive the winter

On top of this selection of seeds they feed on during the winter months, cardinals also have fruits, particularly berries, as a main part of their diet. Some of the berries that bear fruit even in winter include: 

• Black chokeberries
• Elderberries
• High-bush cranberries
• Winterberries
• Wild grapes

Cardinals benefit from the antioxidants and other nutrients that can be found in these different berries. Coupled with the nutrition they get from the seeds that are also included in their diets, cardinals are sufficiently fueled to get through the winter and make it to the spring when the rise in temperatures brings other components of their diet back onto the menu. 

Can Cardinals Survive the Cold?

Cardinals survive the cold. They are year-round birds, meaning they do not migrate to warmer climates before the winter; instead, they see out the cold months in the Northern regions where winter hits the hardest. But every spring reveals that the resilient cardinals are well-equipped to survive the cold. 

Cardinals need to maintain a body temperature range of 105°F to 108°F (40.5°C to 42.2°C), and this requires a lot of energy. Every care is then taken to minimize expending it, and efforts go towards its conservation. 

When temperatures are around 64°F (17.7°C) and above, cardinals cope with the chill through the use of different body mechanics and strategies:

• Fluffing of feathers - When cardinals feel chilly, they fluff their feathers. As a result, pockets of trapped body heat are created, giving the cardinals more warmth. When you see a cardinal out on a winter day, chances are they’ve fluffed themselves up quite well. The fluffier their feathers are, the more warmth they get.
• Change in blood flow direction - Cardinals have the remarkable ability to change the direction of their blood flow. When it gets a little too nippy, they redirect their blood away from the surface of their bodies to prevent needless heat loss. 

These are all brilliant ways to combat the cold. But more drastic measures are required when temperatures begin dropping below 64°F (17.7°C).

• Shivering - Now, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly exceptional about shivering. But unlike our own involuntary shivers and teeth chattering, cardinals consciously tense their breast and leg muscles to generate heat. As they do so, they appear to be shivering. This keep-warm method expends a lot of energy and is mainly a last-gasp effort to raise body temperatures.
• Lowering body temperature - Cardinals are able to lower their body temperatures by 3° to 6° when they desperately need to conserve energy. This induces a state of torpor in which cardinals are more vulnerable to predators. It is therefore reserved for the most desperate of situations.
  
  

Do Cardinals Have Babies in the Winter?

The cardinals’ breeding season runs from March to September. Within this period, they typically raise two broods, the first coming in March and the second from May to July. Beyond September, they no longer lay eggs and have to wait until March comes around again for the new breeding season.

Do Cardinals Like the Snow?

Cardinals do not necessarily like the snow. However, it’s evident that these species don’t mind the cold weather. They’re one of the few species that can easily adapt to winter temperatures. When it snows, cardinals survive by flitting around their natural environment, looking for food sources.

For bird watchers, watching cardinals in the snow is a special treat! Their cheerful songs and seasonal presence make them a favorite among bird lovers.

How Do Cardinals Survive the Winter?...
Conclusion

Cardinals are remarkable species of birds that stay where they are and brave the difficult winter conditions rather than migrate south to warmer temperatures and an arguably easier life. 

Their team efforts and the various individual body mechanics they employ to keep their body temperatures from plummeting help them survive the winter.

Back To the TOP Of This How Do Cardinals Survive the Winter Page

---

---

---

1. We Know Birds HOME
›
2. Cardinal Facts and Information
›
3. How Do Cardinals Survive the Winter?

Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

Read More...

We Know Birds is an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.