Cardinals in Maryland: Where to See Them and How to Identify Them
Yes, Northern Cardinals are common year-round residents throughout all of Maryland, from the coastal plains of the Eastern Shore to the rolling hills of the Piedmont and the western mountains. You will find them most reliably in suburban backyards, woodlot edges, and parks with dense shrubbery that provides cover and nesting sites. The male's bright red plumage and distinctive crest make it one of the easiest birds to identify in the state, even for beginners. To see them, simply look for a flash of red near thickets or listen for their clear, whistling song on a quiet morning.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Northern Cardinal · froggymum CC BY
Northern Cardinal · Public domain CC0
Northern Cardinal · Ken Clark CC BY
- 1
- species recorded
- 1,095,662
- GBIF records
- 6
- birding hotspots
- April, May, January
- peak months
Yes, cardinals are in Maryland. Next you'll want:
What cardinal sound like
Verified field recordings from Xeno-canto. Press play to hear the calls birders listen for in the field.
Northern Cardinal · uncertain
0:06Union Township (near Cincinnati), Clermont County, Ohio · © Tori CC BY-NC-SA · XC727761
Northern Cardinal · song
0:08Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · © Rory Nefdt CC BY-NC-SA · XC1133842
Northern Cardinal · song
0:08Tama (near Burlington), Des Moines, Iowa · © Bobby Wilcox CC BY-NC-SA · XC717104
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
12,563 verified observations on iNaturalist of cardinal have been recorded in Maryland, most often in April, May, January.
When cardinal are recorded in Maryland
Yes, Northern Cardinals are common year-round residents throughout all of Maryland, from the coastal plains of the Eastern Shore to the rolling hills of the Piedmont and the western mountains. You will find them most reliably in suburban backyards, woodlot edges, and parks with dense shrubbery that provides cover and nesting sites. The male's bright red plumage and distinctive crest make it one of the easiest birds to identify in the state, even for beginners. To see them, simply look for a flash of red near thickets or listen for their clear, whistling song on a quiet morning.
1. Where in Maryland Are Cardinals Most Likely to Be Seen?
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.
See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step.
2. What Is the Best Season and Time of Day to See Cardinals?
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.
See ourCardinals guidefor the next step.
3. How Do You Identify a Cardinal Compared to Similar Species?
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.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. What Habitats Do Cardinals Prefer in Maryland?
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.
5. What Do Cardinals Eat and How to Attract Them?
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.
6. Are Cardinals Territorial and How Do They Behave?
Yes, cardinals are strongly territorial. Mated pairs defend a small area year-round. Males often sing from the top of a tree or a prominent branch, and they will chase off intruders. You'll usually see them in pairs, and they can be quite bold around feeders.
7. Show Your Love for Maryland Cardinals
Once you've enjoyed spotting cardinals in the wild, you can bring a bit of that red charm home. Here are a few items from Easy Street Markets:
Cardinal Red Bird T-Shirt
A comfortable tee featuring a bold red cardinal design, perfect for birding trips or casual wear.Check Price and Availability
Red Cardinal Bird Matte Sticker
A durable matte sticker to decorate your notebook, water bottle, or birding gear.Check Price and Availability
Funny Red Cardinal Bird Nerd T-Shirt
A lighthearted shirt for bird nerds who love cardinals and humor.Check Price and Availability
For more bird-themed art and decor, browse ourbird wall art collection.
Bundle 4 Cardinal bird vector for design on wood, t-shirts, slate, canvas, mugs, laser engraving. Cutting Board Design, PNG/SVG
Digital files for laser engraving, printing on wood, fabric, or mugs. A versatile resource for personal projects.Check Price and Availability
8. Frequently Asked Questions About Cardinals in Maryland
**Do cardinals migrate?** No, cardinals are non-migratory. They stay in Maryland year-round.
**How can I tell a male from a female cardinal?** Males are bright red with a black mask; females are tan with red accents. Both have crests.
**What does a cardinal's song sound like?** Males sing a clear, whistled series of notes often described as "what-cheer, cheer-cheer" or "birdie, birdie, birdie."
**Are cardinals rare in Maryland?** Not at all. They are one of the most common backyard birds across the state.
**What plants attract cardinals?** Dogwood, holly, serviceberry, and sumac provide berries. They also like dense shrubs for nesting.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
What are the best native plants for Maryland cardinals?
To support cardinals in your Maryland garden, focus on native plants that provide both high-energy food and dense nesting cover. Northern Spicebush and Serviceberry are excellent choices as they produce berries that mature at different times of the year. Evergreen shrubs like American Holly or Eastern Red Cedar provide essential shelter during harsh winter storms and protected nesting sites in the spring. Cardinals also enjoy the seeds from native sunflowers and coneflowers, which can be left standing in the fall to provide a natural food source when other options are scarce.
How do Maryland cardinals survive freezing winter temperatures?
Maryland cardinals are well-adapted to the state's humid winters and occasional deep freezes. They survive by puffing out their feathers to trap a layer of warm air against their bodies, effectively creating their own insulation. During the coldest nights, they seek out dense evergreen thickets or hollows to block the wind. To maintain their high metabolism, they focus on finding calorie-rich seeds and remaining berries. Providing a heated birdbath or a consistent source of black-oil sunflower seeds in your yard can be a literal lifesaver for local cardinals when natural food sources are covered by snow or ice.
Do cardinals in Maryland raise multiple broods in a single season?
Yes, cardinals in Maryland are prolific breeders and often raise two or even three successful broods between April and August. The long growing season in the Mid-Atlantic allows them plenty of time to fledge one group of chicks and immediately begin another nest. While the female incubates the second set of eggs, the male often takes over the full responsibility of feeding and protecting the fledglings from the first brood. This cooperative behavior ensures a high survival rate for the young and helps maintain the robust cardinal population seen throughout the state's residential and wild areas.
Gear and field guides
Conservation status, source NatureServe
Conservation rank for cardinal (Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis), as assessed by NatureServe Explorer.
| Scope | NatureServe rank | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| In Maryland | S5 | Secure |
| Global (rangewide) | G5 | Secure |
NatureServe ranks run from 1 (critically imperiled) to 5 (secure). See our data methodology for how this is sourced.
Plan your trip
Best time to see cardinal in Maryland: April, May, January
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your cardinal sighting in Maryland
1,095,662 verified cardinal records have been logged in Maryland, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Maryland
- Antietam National Battlefield · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Assateague Island National Seashore · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chesapeake Bay · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Assateague Island National Seashore (please use more specific location) · 356 species recorded
- Point Lookout State Park · 310 species recorded
- Sandy Point State Park · 310 species recorded
- Hart-Miller Island · 309 species recorded
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge · 306 species recorded
- Assateague State Park · 302 species recorded
Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).
Recent cardinal sightings
- Pointers Run Yard II · 2026-06-28 07:21 · 2 seen
- 412 Monticello Ave, Salisbury US-MD 38.35346, -75.60805 · 2026-06-28 07:21 · 2 seen
- Hyatt Chesapeake Bay · 2026-06-28 07:18 · 1 seen
- Private Residence, Takoma Park US-MD 38.97887, -76.98852 · 2026-06-28 07:16 · 2 seen
- 000Our Yard - North Potomac · 2026-06-28 07:07 · 2 seen
Frequently asked questions
1. Where in Maryland Are Cardinals Most Likely to Be Seen?+
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. See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step.
2. What Is the Best Season and Time of Day to See Cardinals?+
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. See ourCardinals guidefor the next step.
3. How Do You Identify a Cardinal Compared to Similar Species?+
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. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. What Habitats Do Cardinals Prefer in Maryland?+
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.
5. What Do Cardinals Eat and How to Attract Them?+
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.
6. Are Cardinals Territorial and How Do They Behave?+
Yes, cardinals are strongly territorial. Mated pairs defend a small area year-round. Males often sing from the top of a tree or a prominent branch, and they will chase off intruders. You'll usually see them in pairs, and they can be quite bold around feeders.
What are the best native plants for Maryland cardinals?+
To support cardinals in your Maryland garden, focus on native plants that provide both high-energy food and dense nesting cover. Northern Spicebush and Serviceberry are excellent choices as they produce berries that mature at different times of the year. Evergreen shrubs like American Holly or Eastern Red Cedar provide essential shelter during harsh winter storms and protected nesting sites in the spring. Cardinals also enjoy the seeds from native sunflowers and coneflowers, which can be left standing in the fall to provide a natural food source when other options are scarce.
How do Maryland cardinals survive freezing winter temperatures?+
Maryland cardinals are well-adapted to the state's humid winters and occasional deep freezes. They survive by puffing out their feathers to trap a layer of warm air against their bodies, effectively creating their own insulation. During the coldest nights, they seek out dense evergreen thickets or hollows to block the wind. To maintain their high metabolism, they focus on finding calorie-rich seeds and remaining berries. Providing a heated birdbath or a consistent source of black-oil sunflower seeds in your yard can be a literal lifesaver for local cardinals when natural food sources are covered by snow or ice.
Do cardinals in Maryland raise multiple broods in a single season?+
Yes, cardinals in Maryland are prolific breeders and often raise two or even three successful broods between April and August. The long growing season in the Mid-Atlantic allows them plenty of time to fledge one group of chicks and immediately begin another nest. While the female incubates the second set of eggs, the male often takes over the full responsibility of feeding and protecting the fledglings from the first brood. This cooperative behavior ensures a high survival rate for the young and helps maintain the robust cardinal population seen throughout the state's residential and wild areas.
Keep exploring
More places to see cardinal
More wildlife in Maryland