Red-crested Cardinal

Gray Cardinal ( Paroaria coronata )

The Gray Cardinal ( Paroaria coronata ) is a South American passerine bird in the bunting family.

Features

The 20 cm long gray cardinal gray on back, wings and tail, on the chest, abdomen and sides of the neck white and colored red on the face, hood and throat.

Because of its diverse and melodic singing, he is a popular cage bird.

Occurrence

The bird lives in open grasslands with scattered trees and bushes, often near water, in south-eastern Brazil, northern Argentina and southeastern Bolivia. In Hawaii, it has been introduced.

Behavior

The gray cardinal is a gregarious bird on the ground often examined in pairs or in small groups for seeds. The resting place he takes a high up in a tree or bush.

Reproduction

During courtship ritual, the male spreads his tail feathers and hops, with food or nesting material in its beak to the females around. The cup-shaped nest of grass roots and is built in bushes or small trees below. Both parents incubate three to four eggs for about two weeks. With two weeks, the young birds fledge. However, they are yet another week fed by the parents.