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Question
I am puzzled by the total absence of cardinals from areas in
the Midwest (western Wisconsin and adjoining parts of Minnesota and Iowa) since early September. In all these areas they had been present in abundance throughout the spring and summer. I spend a lot of time outdoors so I am accustomed to hearing their various calls. Several web sites state that the species is non-migratory (which I had always thought) yet they are nowhere to be heard of seen here of late. I have not heard one call since at least mid-September. What is going on?
That area of the country is at the edge of their western and northern ranges. They don't migrate, but they do move around a bit. In addition, they are very quiet this time of year - not breeding and not setting up winter territories as yet. So they won't be calling much. Could be some local conditions I am not aware of, but I don't think this is particularly unusual or worrisome.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Roger, Thank you for the prompt reply. What you say makes sense. What prompted my inquiry was the apparent suddenness of the cardinal's departure. The male's plumage makes him hard to miss, even if he isn't calling. The female somewhat less so, of course. The area where I have visited during the past four weeks (when I began to notice their absence) extends along the Mississippi River valley from just south of the Twin Tities, through western Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa. I have seen robins, in small migrating flocks, and occasionally larger flocks of red-wing blackbirds but few others of our exclusively summer winged friends. Local residents tell me they are accustomed to seeing cardinals visit their feeders during the winter. Winter temperatures typically fall below zero a dozen or more times during the winter months throughout this area, but I, like many songbirds, spend those chilly months far to the south. Bill Dwyer have | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Roger Lederer
Expertise
Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.
Experience
Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.
Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico
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