Expert: Julia Booth - 10/15/2009

Question
Hi Julia,

I have a beautiful Northern Cardinal that I saved last May.
He was acting very sweet like a normal bird; but now that he's growing, strong, and healthy, is getting aggressive.
When me or my husband getting close to the cage he starts shouting, and making weird, and loud noises, and a few minutes later, is very sweet, and starts singing beautiful.
We also at time we let him out of the cage, and give him food, and goes around the house. looks like he gets angry when we put him back in the cage.
Can you help me why he's acting like that?
Thank you in advanced.
Celinda

Answer
First of all, Cardinals are aggressive to begin with. They become even more so when confined to a cage, even if it's not full time. Not sure why this is. He looks angry because he's a wild animal and he simply wasn't meant to live in a cage.

His behavior is related to his mating cycle. The need to procreate is very strong in Cardinals. He sounds sexually frustrated. He needs a mate. He will continue to behave this way until he gets one. Or he has already selected you or your husband as his potential mate, which isn't uncommon. But since he cannot actually mate with you, he will inevitably be disappointed.

Can I ask why you're keeping him, now that he's physically strong? Cardinals are not like predatory animals, that cannot be released back into the wild. He would be able to fend for himself with no problem and have a better chance of finding a mate.

My advice is that you let him go.


Hope this helps,

Julia