<P> 19 sspp., see text </P> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Range of C. cardinalis </Td> </Tr> <P> The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis; it is also known colloquially as the redbird or common cardinal . It can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala . Its habitat includes woodlands, gardens, shrublands, wetlands . </P> <P> The northern cardinal is a mid-sized songbird with a body length of 21--23 cm (8.3--9.1 in). It has a distinctive crest on the head and a mask on the face which is black in the male and gray in the female . The male is a vibrant red, while the female is a dull reddish olive . The northern cardinal is mainly granivorous, but also feeds on insects and fruit . The male behaves territorially, marking out his territory with song . During courtship, the male feeds seed to the female beak - to - beak . A clutch of three to four eggs is laid, and two to four clutches are produced each year . It was once prized as a pet, but its sale as a cage bird was banned in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 . </P>

Where do cardinals live in the united states