How Long Do Cardinals Live?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 25, 2020

On average, cardinals live for approximately 15 years in the wild. These birds do well at adjusting to new environments. As of 2014, the cardinal population has been growing for several years, and the geographic regions they occupy have expanded to include the northern United States and Canada.

These birds are omnivorous, having a varied diet. Cardinals are commonly thought of as being a vibrant red, but only the males are this color. Females are a tan or grey in color. Cardinals are typically about 8 or 9 inches in length and weigh less than 2 ounces. Several states have designated the cardinal as the official state bird.