Do Cardinals use bird baths
In theory, Northern Cardinals should be commonly seen at your bird bath but only if they are found in the State where your preside.
Cardinals do use bird baths, and can be spotted above all other common bird species with their bright red plumage of the male, or lighter tone of the females. Cardinals are common bird bath users just like other birds. Cardinals need to prune and re-hydrate, and can happily share a bird bath with others.
Well, there's nothing more inviting to Northern Cardinals than the glisten of water, or the sound of running water.
Much like all common backyard birds, Cardinals must use a bird bath to in order too prune their feathers or drink to starve off thirst.
I believe the whole Northern Cardinal family can be found occupying a bird bath each to their own, or on the rare occasion - the male, female and fledgling can be spotted all at the same time, so that would be a sight to see.
Cardinals can be aggressive at the feeders, but they are seen to be more mellow around the bird bath - happily sharing the rim or water of the bird bath with like-minded birds.
Typical conditions with a bird bath for Cardinals would be a bird bath setup out in the open, with no restrictions or the use of a smaller, harder to reach hanging bird bath.
If the environment is then a safe one, free of pests, pets and people - Cardinals can use this bird bath location all year round - or especially when in times of drought or long spells of unseasonable, hot weather.
Fill the bird bath up to 2 inches at the center to allow this medium to large size bird to prune properly - while using gravel to help their footing, with rocks to act as perches.
What else you can do to invite Cardinals to your bird bath, and therefore attracting Cardinals to your yard - is to set up running water via a solar panel water feature.
Cardinals BIG bird bath users
You'd be surprised just how popular bird baths are with Northern Cardinals, and as a common backyard birds for most of us, Cardinals in a bird bath is quite common to see.
Cardinals are big bird bath users, just as other birds that frequent your yards the most.
Behavior in the bird bath can be cleaning their feathers to re-hydrating of course - as they can be present all year round; in cold States in the US and Canada, to hotter climates in the South to South East of the US.
Cardinals can suffer in times of drought or hotter than normal weather across the South-East - with Texas and Florida being especially hotter than normal most years.
Northern Cardinals must be catered to on the bird feeders, so that would mean they will in time, visit the bird bath when its need - to re-hydrate or preen their feathers.
As Cardinals do use bird baths you only need to spot their remarkable red plumage with black markings across their face - or in case of female Cardinals with their lighter plumage but distinctive features.
Cardinal families a common sight
Northern Cardinals can be spotted at the bird bath, or similarly any water source in your yard with their bright red plumage.
Male Cardinals can be found with their red plumage, whereas the females can be noticed with their fainter tone feathers - but still very similar look.
Fledglings in spring through summertime can be found with their parents at the bird bath, just as they come along to seen with the female at the bird feeders.
Its unlikely the whole Northern Cardinal family would arrive at the bird bath together, but remember Cardinals can be distinguished in many ways.
Cardinals can indeed be quite aggressive when defending their feeding grounds, but don't expect this at the bird bath. Cardinals can happily share the rim of the bird bath with other species pruning their feathers or having a well needed drink.
I would expect Cardinals to be a regular sight on your bird bath, but this isn't always the case with your personal circumstances - namely your particular yard - is not inviting for them to feed.
Self-pruning Cardinals apply
Cardinals must keep their feathers in top notch condition in order to take flight, thus unkempt feathers can keep Northern Cardinals grounded indefinitely.
One behavior you can expect Cardinals to proceed within the water bowl of the bird bath is pruning their feathers.
How that would play out (and if you refer to the featured image above) there would be a lot of frolicking in the water with splashing everywhere.
Expect them to enter into the deepest part of the bird bath - though its vital the bird bath is no deeper than 2 inches for Northern Cardinals - as to allow them to thoroughly clean their feathers.
Pruning at the bird bath for Cardinals would require a little more room, so be sure there's no obstacles in the way, but gravel lining the base of the bird bath with a number of rocks submerged part way under water would be safer conditions.
As Cardinals need to prune to maintain their feathers, its not always about drinking fresh water with common backyard birds.
Re-hydration remains vital
What is more important then the need for Cardinals to prune their feathers, is of course to re-hydrate with fresh, clean tap water in the bath.
Best type of bird bath for Cardinals would be those that allow this medium to large size backyard bird to enter the bird bath water bowl safely to drink, or indeed at least allow them to perch on the rim of the bird bath to re-hydrate.
Come to think about it, while Northern Cardinals can be seen using a bird bath that is elevated on a stand, the Cardinal may benefit more with a ground bird bath as they are a ground feeding bird by nature.
If you can't get Cardinals to use your bird bath then, be sure to think about setting up a ground bird bath - as they may feel more comfortable using this type over others.
What is vital is creating a safe, easy to access bird bath for Cardinals to drink.
Line the bird bath base with stones or water safe gravel, with a few rocks in the water so they can lean to drink at the rim, on the rocks or enter the water itself.
Larger bird bath recommended
Whilst bird baths can't attract Cardinals all by themselves, as running water would be a vital addition in bringing birds to it, a larger, heavier bird bath may be needed.
Birds can get a feel of an unstable, unsafe bird baths, thus birds such as Cardinals may not use it if its made in flimsy plastic or slippery decorative glass.
With that in mind, a very heavy stone bird bath would be safe for wild birds, and so would the Northern Cardinals. And while metal bird baths can be an alternative option, they must be low to the ground, or open to the elements on a stand, or pedestal higher up.
How big should the bird bath be to accommodate Cardinals in particular is a normal size bird bath on a stand, but a little bigger can help.
When or if your bird bath becomes busy with Cardinals only or a mix of other species, you will want to keep Cardinals at a distance; they are calm on bird baths but you don't want to risk it if their young are present.
And while many smaller common backyard birds can take to bird baths, do try to avoid the hanging bird bird style as the chains for hanging can be a nuisance to Cardinals and larger birds such as Blue Jays.
Conclusion
Northern Cardinals do use bird baths, and in fact are probably one of the biggest bird bath users in the United States.
Cardinals remain one of your most common birds, thus to not see them at the bird bath once in a while would be unusual for sure.
Perhaps the bird bath is placed wrong or unkempt, but Cardinals will use a bird bath if made available to them - and the water conditions is fresh and clean.
Spot Cardinals, or the male in partially with its bright red plumage, but that black markings on his face and so to the female - is the most recognizable feature - including on the young.
While Cardinals will always remain big users of bird baths, do remember they may need a bigger bird bath if you use a small, flimsy option.
Bird baths for Cardinals must be open to the elements whilst being placed on the ground, or if you wish on a stand.
Cardinals, much like or common backyard birds, use bird baths when the time is right to both prune their feathers - and more importantly to re-hydrate.
Northern Cardinals do use bird baths but in order to do so, the environment where its placed would decide whether or not they will use it.
Share this article:
