Red-crested cardinal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-crested cardinal |
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| At Koke'e State Park, Hawaii | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Paroaria
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| Species: |
coronata
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The red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata) is a beautiful songbird. It belongs to the family of tanagers, called Thraupidae. Even though its name sounds like "cardinal," it's not closely related to the true cardinal family (Cardinalidae). Sometimes, people call this bird the Brazilian cardinal.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The first part of its scientific name, Paroaria, comes from the Tupí people. It means "small red, yellow, and gray bird." The second part, coronata, is a Latin word that means "crowned." This makes sense because of its bright red head!
Where Do They Live?
You can find red-crested cardinals mainly in South America. They live in places like Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul, the southern part of the Pantanal wetlands, northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
These birds have also been introduced to other places by people. You can now find them in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Chile. In Brazil, they've been moved to areas outside their natural home, such as the Tietê Ecological Park in São Paulo.
Their Home and Habitat
Red-crested cardinals like to live in warm, dry places. Their natural habitats include dry shrubland and areas where forests used to be but are now changed by humans. They usually live at elevations up to about 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. You'll often spot them near rivers, marshes, and lakes.
What Do They Look Like?
The red-crested cardinal is a medium-sized bird. It has a bright red head with a short red crest that it can raise when it's excited. It also has a red bib, which is like a patch of color on its throat. Its belly, chest, and the feathers under its tail are white. The back, wings, and tail are gray. The feathers covering its wings are gray, but the main flight feathers on its wings and tail are a darker gray.
Young red-crested cardinals look a lot like the adults. However, their heads and bibs are a dull brownish-orange instead of bright red.
This bird looks very similar to its close relative, the red-cowled cardinal (P. dominicana). It also looks a bit like the yellow-billed cardinal (P. capitata). But the yellow-billed cardinal has a black throat, darker upper parts, and a bright yellow beak.
Life and Habits
Red-crested cardinals mostly eat seeds from plants like Chloris virgata and Setaria parviflora. They also enjoy fruits from trees such as Celtis tala and Morus alba. Besides plants, they eat insects and small spiders. They usually search for their food on the ground, either alone or in small groups. On average, a red-crested cardinal lives for about 3.8 years.
Gallery
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Fully displayed crest - Maui, Hawaii
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Juvenile - Kapiolani Park - Oahu, Hawaii
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Close-up
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See also
In Spanish: Cardenilla crestada para niños
