Family Cardinalidae

Cardinals

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General

Previously included in a much broader Emberizidae. Limits and composition redrawn in recent years, based on extensive molecular work#R #R. As compared to HBW: Granatellus is imported from Parulidae, Amaurospiza from Passerellidae (part of Emberizidae in HBW), and Habia (now including Chlorothraupis) and Piranga from Thraupidae; at the same time, Saltator and Parkerthraustes have been removed to Thraupidae.

11-24 cm.

11 genera, 52 species, 155 taxa.

1 species threatened;
none extinct since 1600.

Systematics

Cardinalidae includes some of the most beautiful and best-loved birds of the Americas. The taxa traditionally placed in this family are, with the exception of the anomalous Parkerthraustes and Saltator, a fairly homogeneous group of small to medium-sized finch-like birds...

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Morphological Aspects

Typical cardinalids are rather stocky, medium-sized to small finch-like birds with a heavy bill and a relatively short tail, Cardinalis, the only crested genus in the family, being somewhat longer-tailed. Males tend to be slightly larger than females. Dickcissel males are...

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Habitat

Cardinalid habitats range from Amazonian rainforest to Andean forests, semi-arid scrub, temperate woodland and, for the Dickcissel, grassland and open prairie. Most species have broad habitat tolerances, generally preferring semi-open and edge situations with shrub or tree cover. Localized...

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General Habits

There is little information on the amount of time that cardinalids budget for daily activities. Captive cardinals studied by T. W. Shuman and her colleagues spent 74% of their time perching, 13% feeding and 5% flying, and the remainder interacting, drinking and in miscellaneous unspecified...

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Voice

The voices of cardinalids are among their most attractive features. Most species have musical songs consisting of a series of whistled or warbled phrases, as well as a repertoire of often sharp and distinctive calls. The primary song of the Dickcissel is an exception, being a short, dry series...

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Food and Feeding

Cardinalids are, by and large, opportunistic omnivores. Plant material, including fruits, flowers, buds, stems, seeds and occasionally nectar, normally represents a higher bulk in the diet than animal matter....

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Breeding

Little information is available on the mating system of Neotropical members of the family. Indeed, the breeding behaviour of the Red-and-black Grosbeak, the sole member of the genus Periporphyrus, remains completely unknown. One Neotropical species, the Black-faced Grosbeak, may breed...

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Movements

Cardinalidae includes not only resident species, but also long-distance, short-distance and altitudinal migrants. Mexican and Neotropical species are largely sedentary, although Crimson-collared Grosbeaks and Blue Buntings have been recorded well outside their normal range, and Rose-bellied...

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Relationship with Man

Cardinalids have attracted human attention, and admiration, for centuries. This is reflected in some of their local names. For example, in South America, the Black-backed Grosbeak is known as rey del bosque...

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Status and Conservation

None of the species presently included in the family Cardinalidae is currently considered to be globally threatened, but four are listed as Near-threatened. These are the Painted Bunting, the Rose-bellied Bunting...

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General Bibliography

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Species list

List of species of the Cardinals (Cardinalidae) family. Each species provides information on taxonomy, descriptive notes, voice, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, movements, status and conservation and bibliography.

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A detailed list of the species of the family is displayed to our subscribers, showing the following columns: Genus, Species, Common name, Conservation Status, Figure, and the Check mark. Above the table, a tiny search engine is displayed to facilitate the filtering of the species.

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Family Cardinalidae

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