English             -               Red-cowled Cardinal

Portuguese     -                Cardeal-do-nordeste

Latin                -                 Paroaria dominicana           

The Red-cowled Cardinal is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It was formerly placed in the Emberizidae family but is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae). 

The Red-cowled Cardinal measures about 18 cm in length and weighs up to 30–34 g. It has a red head and white underparts. The nape of the neck is white. It’s back is mottled black and white and it has a white edging to the flight feathers. The lower mandible is white. The males head is a darker red than the female and the juveniles head colour is normally a rusty brown colour. Song is a sweet, melodious and somewhat repetitive, interspersed with distinctive set of paired notes.           

The Red-cowled Cardinal is endemic to Brazil. It occurs in a wide range of dry to semi-humid open to semi-open habitats in north-eastern Brazil, especially the Caatinga region. It has been introduced (probably by means of escaped caged individuals) to eastern parts of Brazil, being locally common even in urban areas.        

The Red-cowled Cardinal is predominantly a granivore, but it will also feed on berries and will occasionally becomes insectivorous. They forages hopping along the ground, picking up whatever they can find. They are usually found in pairs or in family groups. They are also commonly seen at artificial feeders in parks and private gardens.

During reproduction the Red-cowled Cardinal is monogamous. The male can be very aggressive at defending its territory when they are breeding. Red-cowled Cardinals reach sexual maturity after 10 months. The nest is a bowl shape structure made from twigs, grass and dried plant material. The female will lay between 2 and 3 greenish blue eggs and incubates them for around 13 days In some regions the Red-cowled Cardinals can have 2 to 4 broods per season but in the northeastern caatinga region they only reproduces once in the year, during the rainy season. No other information found regrading fledging, age of independence was found.          

Red-cowled Cardinals are not endangered and is considered to be at a low conservation priority. They are listed as a species “of Least Concern”  However, there is no data on their actual population number but this is another species that seem to be benefiting from the destruction of the rain forest and their numbers are believed to be increasing. Red-cowled Cardinals are kept as pets though and are sold on the black market in Brazil and they are even used for bird fighting. In rural areas, caged Red-cowled Cardinals can be seen in many houses. This deplorable practice is part of the Brazilian northeastern culture. Thus, Red-cowled Cardinals held in captivity are a common sight, and in some areas, they are becoming rare. This trade of wild animals is forbidden by law in Brazil, but continues unabated and in the open, before the eyes of police, the authorities and the general public.

Photo No 1 of the Red-cowled Cardinal was taken at Parque das Aves - Foz do Iguacu - Parana

Photo No 2  was taken in the town of Ibiraçu - Espirito Santo

Photo No 3 was taken at Praca do Papa - Vitoria - Espirito Santo