Cardinals in Pennsylvania in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see cardinals in Pennsylvania. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,645 of the 13,924 sightings logged across the year (11.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Northern Cardinal photographed in PennsylvaniaNorthern Cardinal photographed in PennsylvaniaNorthern Cardinal photographed in Pennsylvania
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for cardinals in Pennsylvania

11.8%

of yearly sightings

1,645

records in March

#3

busiest month of 12

13,924

verified records a year

February 9.7%, March 11.8%, April 17.8%. Busiest month is April at 17.8%.

Best months: April, May, March

13,924 verified observations of cardinals in Pennsylvania, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When cardinals are recorded in Pennsylvania

Peak month

April

2,478 records (17.8% of the year)

Quietest month

August

486 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1,51310.9%
February1,3459.7%
Marchpeak1,64511.8%
Aprilpeak2,47817.8%
Maypeak1,87213.4%
June1,1047.9%
July6494.7%
August4863.5%
September6054.3%
October5684.1%
November6874.9%
December9727%

Cardinals you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Northern Cardinal13,921

In Pennsylvania, March carries 11.8% of the year's cardinals sightings, about 3.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from February (9.7%) into March, and it heads toward April (17.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The cardinals most often recorded in Pennsylvania are Northern Cardinal. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March itself.

Which cardinals you are most likely to see

  • Northern Cardinal13,921 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your cardinal trip in Pennsylvania

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see cardinals in Pennsylvania in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 1,645 of the 13,924 verified cardinals sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 11.8% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see cardinals in Pennsylvania?+

March is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and March.

What month is best for cardinals in Pennsylvania?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and March, based on 13,924 verified observations.

Which cardinals are you most likely to see in Pennsylvania?+

The most-recorded species in Pennsylvania are Northern Cardinal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.