Cardinalis cardinalis

This male Northern Cardinal overwintered at a backyard in Port aux Choix in 2005-2006 – just the second confirmed record for Newfoundland.
– Photo: Sidney Torraville

Status: Very Rare (< 5 records)

Origins: A resident of the eastern and southern United States, occurring regularly as close New Brunswick and (less often) Nova Scotia.

Record Details: Four records for Newfoundland. (1) The first was in Corner Brook in 1970 (the literature shows a discrepancy in dates from August to winter). (2) The second was a male that overwintered at a feeder in Port aux Choix from October 2005 – April 2006 but was only reported months later. (3) Thirdly, a female was photographed at a feeder in Heart’s Delight on the afternoon of November 19, 2012 but not seen subsequently. (4) Most recently, a female was visiting a feeder in Charlottetown from October 16-24, 2015 and seen by a number of keen birders.

There have been several unconfirmed reports, including one from near Deer Lake in July 1981 and another in Gros Morne National Park in February 2016. Details of a photograph from Stephenville Crossing in spring 2015 remain to be confirmed.

* NOTE – This website is not an official account and “may” contain incorrect information and/or details of unconfirmed records. *