Red-Crested Cardinal
Paroaria coronata
Habitat
Understory
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
38 g
About This Species
This crested, red-headed songbird frequents scrubby woodland edges, parks and gardens across parts of South America, often in small groups foraging on the ground and in low understory vegetation for seeds and insects. Its bold red head and crest make it easy to pick out even at a distance, and it is generally confident around people in parks and gardens. Early morning feeding bouts on open ground are the most reliable time to watch it clearly.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species tolerates people well in urban parks, and a distance of a few metres while it feeds is usually unproblematic if movements stay slow and quiet.
- Protection under wildlife law varies across the South American countries where it occurs naturally and where it has been introduced, so check local rules rather than assuming one applies throughout.
- Avoid feeding or handling birds, since this can alter natural foraging behaviour and increase reliance on people.
LCAvesPasseriformesThraupidae
Seasonal Activity
239,233 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Understory
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 38 g
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.