Photo: Allissondias / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-cowled Cardinal
Paroaria dominicana
Red-cowled Cardinal (Paroaria dominicana) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-cowled Cardinal (Paroaria dominicana) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 33.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Paroaria
- Species dominicana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 33.2 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-cowled Cardinal is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-cowled Cardinal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-cowled Cardinal (Paroaria dominicana) is a member of the Thraupidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 33.2 g, with a wing length of about 9.1 cm and a tail of around 7.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-cowled Cardinal?
The Red-cowled Cardinal is a small bird that weighs around 33.2 g.
Where does the Red-cowled Cardinal live?
The Red-cowled Cardinal is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red-cowled Cardinal belong to?
The Red-cowled Cardinal (Paroaria dominicana) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-cowled Cardinal eat?
The Red-cowled Cardinal is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red-cowled Cardinal migrate?
The Red-cowled Cardinal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-cowled Cardinal endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red-cowled Cardinal make?
1 real field recording of the Red-cowled Cardinal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-cowled Cardinal's range?
The Red-cowled Cardinal has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Least Concern
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.