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: Rare (Less than annual)

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

Record Details: Nine 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) A female was visiting a feeder in Charlottetown from October 16-24, 2015 and seen by a number of keen birders. A rash of records occurred in late 2018-early 2019: (5) Hodge’s Cove, Trinity Bay; ~November 9-10,  (6) A male at Butt’s Pond (near Benton) November 9-10, 2018 was noted as unwell and subsequently died; (7) A long-staying male at Lawn, Burin Peninsula; December 4, 2018- at least early March 2019; (8) Pouch Cove; late December 2018 – at least early March 2019: and (9) Lewin’s Cove, Burin Peninsula; January 14 – ??, 2019.

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. *