Cardinals in Maryland: Where to See Them and How to Identify Them

Cardinals are widespread throughout Maryland, but you'll find them most reliably in central and southern counties like Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles. Top spots include Patuxent Research Refuge, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and the C&O Canal towpath. They also thrive in suburban neighborhoods where bird feeders provide sunflower seeds.

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Cardinals stick around all year, so you can spot them any season. Early morning (dawn to 9 AM) and late afternoon (4 PM to dusk) are when they feed most actively. During late spring and early summer, males sing loudly from high perches, making them easier to locate.

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The male cardinal is unmistakable: bright red all over, a black mask around the bill, and a tall crest. The female is tan with reddish tones on the wings and tail, but she also has a crest and orange bill. Similar species like the scarlet tanager lack a crest and have black wings; the summer tanager is all red but has a thicker bill and no crest. The pyrrhuloxia of the Southwest is similar but has a yellow bill and grayish tones.

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Cardinals favor edges of forests, thickets, overgrown fields, and suburban gardens with dense shrubs. They rarely venture into open fields or deep woods. In Maryland, look for them along park trails with brushy understory or beside farm hedgerows.

Cardinals eat seeds (especially sunflower and safflower), fruits, and insects. To attract them to your yard, offer black-oil sunflower seeds in a tube feeder or tray feeder. Planting berry-producing shrubs like dogwood or holly also helps. I've had a pair visit my feeder every morning since I switched to safflower.