The male cardinal is easily identified by its high crest, black throat, and red plumage. The females of the species are olive-green in color, with dull reddish wings and crest and brownish-pink undersides. Popular for its color and song, the cardinal is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

"Cardinal," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Museum of Natural History. All rights reserved.