Best Time to See Cardinals in the US
April, May and March is the best time to see cardinals in the United States. This is a national picture built from 311,092 verified iNaturalist observations across 48 states, showing when and where cardinals are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
311,092 verified observations of cardinals in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When cardinals are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
56,612 records (18.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31,772 | 10.2% |
| February | 30,955 | 10% |
| Marchpeak | 37,086 | 11.9% |
| Aprilpeak | 56,612 | 18.2% |
| Maypeak | 38,813 | 12.5% |
| June | 22,352 | 7.2% |
| July | 16,463 | 5.3% |
| August | 14,060 | 4.5% |
| September | 12,896 | 4.1% |
| October | 13,712 | 4.4% |
| November | 14,813 | 4.8% |
| December | 21,558 | 6.9% |
Cardinals you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal | 303,895 |
| Pyrrhuloxia | 6,879 |
| Northern Cardinal × Pyrrhuloxia | 9 |
Across the country, cardinals sightings peak in April, when 56,612 of the 311,092 annual observations are logged, about 18.2% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, May and March.
The best states to see cardinals by recorded sightings are Texas (81,412), Florida (19,630), Virginia (15,661), New York (14,533) and Pennsylvania (13,924). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The cardinals you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia and Northern Cardinal × Pyrrhuloxia, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see cardinals
- cardinals in Texas81,412 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Florida19,630 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Virginia15,661 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in New York14,533 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Pennsylvania13,924 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in North Carolina13,471 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Illinois13,038 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Maryland12,530 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Ohio12,283 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Massachusetts10,942 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in South Carolina10,360 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Tennessee8,385 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Arizona7,466 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in Georgia6,660 sightings, peak April
- cardinals in New Jersey6,150 sightings, peak April
Most-recorded cardinals species nationwide
- Northern Cardinal303,895 records
- Pyrrhuloxia6,879 records
- Northern Cardinal × Pyrrhuloxia9 records
Plan your cardinal trip in Texas
Start with live tours near Texas, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Texas
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main cardinal viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Texas
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best cardinal viewing area in Texas.
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Broader backupBook a cardinal tour in Texas
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see cardinals in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 311,092 verified observations across 48 states.
Which states are best for seeing cardinals?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are Texas, Florida and Virginia. Texas leads with 81,412 verified observations.
How many cardinals sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 311,092 verified cardinals observations are logged on iNaturalist across 48 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of cardinals live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Northern Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia and Northern Cardinal × Pyrrhuloxia, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.