Cardinal behavior

14 years ago

Hi All,

I was just curious if anyone else has ever seen male cardinals (or other birds)do this:

The male cardinal came to the tray feeder that hangs next to the house, outside the kitchen window. He ate several seeds. Then he picked up a sunflower seed, cracked it and put the shelled seed meat down on the tray. Picked up another and did the same thing until he had an actual little pile of 4 shelled seeds. Then he somehow scooped all four of them into his beak and flew off to his lady-fair who must be sitting on the eggs. I watched him do this yesterday and this morning.

I've seen the male cardinals feed the females many times during their courting time (he will offer her a whole seed which she takes and cracks herself) but I've never seen this behavior.

Have you?

Patti

Featured Answer

little_dani

14 years ago

I have a cardinal laying eggs in a nest in my hanging basket of Angel-wing Begonia. So far she has 3 speckled eggs and one white egg. They are all the same size and shape, so I am kind of wondering if it is an egg from a Blue Jay, or another bird, or if she just lays weird eggs.

Anyway, I have not seen them do this, so I will watch for it, and let you know.

Janie

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Comments (10)

PattiOH
Original Author
14 years ago
Janie, do you have cowbirds in your area? Some of their eggs are white and they are notorious for laying eggs in other bird's nests.
It's pretty cool that your cardinals built in the hanging basket! Ususally they prefer to nest away from people.
I'm jealous that you'll get to see the babies in the nest!
Patti
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little_dani
14 years ago
This same pair always nested in the Star Jasmine vine, but it got so rambunctious that DH cut it down last fall. We never thought about the Cardinals, so I am very happy that they moved into the hanging basket.

We do have cowbirds, in the pasture next door, as a matter of fact. I would have never thought of them. Should I remove that egg? Lady Cardinal has not started setting on the eggs yet.

Janie
todancewithwolves
14 years ago
I wish we had Cardinal's here. Animals are so smart.
thinman
14 years ago
Talk about a considerate husband, that's one devoted bird. I'll bet his mate is the cardinal equivalent of a super model and he's not taking any chances. The other male cardinals are probably peeved at him for raising the bar like that, though they would all do the same thing in a heartbeat if they thought they had a shot.

ThinMan
thinman
14 years ago
finished posting my comment and left the computer, when I looked out and saw a female cardinal in our bird bath splashing away. Not sure if she was super model caliber or not, but she looked like a hottie to me.

TM
little_dani
14 years ago
WHAHAHAHahahahahahaha! Thinman, you bad!

I am going to buy a large supply of sunflower seeds and have them close to the nest, so he can crack them and feed her if she wants.

I think all birds are super model material. I saw a pair of super sleek doves today.....

Janie
PattiOH
Original Author
14 years ago
Janie, I should have said to get rid of that white egg. Three babies is really all the cardinal "rents" can handle.

LOL ThinMan! I love the way you think. I suspect you are not far off the mark!

Edna, the range of the cardinals is increasing all the time. I did read of a sighting in southern California not long ago, so who knows, maybe they will visit your lovely garden one of these days!

Patti
little_dani
14 years ago
I purchased a nice big bag of sunflower seeds today, to put out for my birds.

I took the white eggs out of the next. Unfortunately, by the time we did it, there is only one speckled egg and two very pale BLUE eggs. Two of the speckled eggs were gone, and we didn't find any sign of them. I am hoping Lady Cardinal will come back and lay some more. Do you think the blue eggs are from a Jay?

Janie
PattiOH
Original Author
14 years ago
Janie you have quite the mystery going on there!

I think bluejay is a good guess for several reasons:
1. They aren't fussy about nesting sites, so they wouldn't object to a hanging basket.
2. They will use the nests of other birds
3. They will eat eggs of other birds
4. Their eggs are a shade of blue

The cardinal couple may build another nest nearby, especially if they discover you are providing one of their favorite foods (what type of feeder are you using? They prefer to eat on a flat surface like a tray (or the ground), not on the perch-style feeders). They have a couple broods a year I think. They love safflower seeds too, which are more $$$ but the squirrels hate them, so if squirrels are a problem, spending more on safflower seeds might make sense (unless you have chipmunks, who love safflower! LOL!)

There must be lots of egg ID sites out there, but I'm including a link to one I've used (I didn't see a bluejay egg at first glance, but it might be there someplace).

Patti

Here is a link that might be useful: Egg IDs