The human’s conceptions of fidelity and love don’t apply to them. Cardinals’ main purpose is to mate to preserve their kind and produce the biggest number of healthy offspring that make it to adulthood, so they can mate and produce more members. This is one of the common mistakes that people make when they try to interpret the behavior of other creatures like cardinals. In some cases, the female and the male choose to mate with other members of the species while still maintaining a bond with their previous partners. For this reason, cardinals are loyal to their partners, but not for life. Scientists proved that if a male cardinal is feeding a new female, then this is probably the first time for him to mate, or his previous mate is no longer available. However, this behavior is part of the male’s job in the reproduction process since most of the effort is carried out by the female before and after laying the eggs. Every year before the breeding season, the male bird will carry on this courtship ritual by feeding the female to provide her with the needed assurance that she will have access to food when she can’t fly.īirdwatchers used to misinterpret this behavior because they saw the male bird feeding the same female every year. Misconceptions About the Cardinals KissĬardinals are predominately monogamous and will mate for life, so humans used to believe that a cardinals’ kiss is the renewal of the loyalty vows between the male and the female. This courtship feeding ritual fascinates birdwatchers and scientists and is essential for the survival of the species.
During the incubation period, he will be able to feed her and even provide for the baby chicks when they hatch.
The male approaches the female with extra seeds in his mouth and starts to feed her to show her that she can depend on him. Through this behavior, the female gets reassured that her feeding needs will be met when she is busy taking care of the offspring. Although this act might not be related to affection, it’s an act of reliability and dependability. It’s incredibly convenient if the female bird chooses a mate that can bring her the food when she can’t fly around.ĭuring the courtship period, the male bird will show the female bird that he is ready to feed her, so she can have all her energy focused on reproduction. However, there’s a scientific explanation for this behavior, and we’ll explore it fully in this article.Īuthor Note: Females lose most of their energy during the reproduction process through laying the eggs, taking care of them, and protecting the young chicks later on. This happens in the springtime when the birds are looking for mates, and this is when you’ll probably notice all the kissing and affection. These birds feed mainly on seeds, and they’re of the earliest guests to your backyard bird feeder, especially if you keep a fresh supply of black oil sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts all day long.Ĭardinals engage in what is known as mate feeding right before the breeding season. A male bird brings the food to the female to show her that he can be a good mate. However, this behavior isn’t related to love and affection. The male picks the seeds and then feeds them to the females in what is known as courtship feeding. During mating season, cardinals approach each other, and the male locks beak with the female. The short answer is no, cardinals look like they are kissing but that’s not actually what they are doing. However, cardinals display an exciting behavior when the male and the female approach each other in a passionate fashion and lock their beaks together in what appears to be a sentimental kiss. Known for its vibrant plumage and lovable song, this bird is one of the most welcomed guests at backyards. The Northern Cardinal, or simply cardinal, is one of the most popular birds in Canada and the US.