Red-Crested Cardinal Overview
The red-crested cardinal is common in the lowlands of the main Hawaiian Islands. Native to South America, it was introduced to Oahu around 1930 and later became a familiar sight in many island neighborhoods, parks and open spaces.
This bird is also called the Brazilian cardinal. It is often seen on lawns, in parks and in open dry forests, where it walks or hops along the ground while searching for food. Its bold red head makes it one of the easier introduced birds for visitors to recognize.
Markings, Food and Habitat
Adult males and females look similar. Both have a red head, red crest and red upper breast, along with a silver-gray bill and dark legs. The rest of the body is gray and white, which makes the red head and crest stand out even more.
Juvenile birds look similar to adults, but their head and crest are orange-brown instead of bright red, and their bill is black. Red-crested cardinals feed on seeds, insects, plant matter and fruits, so they do well in open lowland areas where food is easy to find.
In Hawaii's bird guide, the red-crested cardinal fits with other familiar introduced birds such as the northern cardinal, common myna, house finch and zebra dove.
