Here is a Red-crested Cardinal I spotted in a small municipal park in Quito, where he shared a feeding ground with a Great Thrush and an Eared Dove, among others.

The similar crest (and its color) notwithstanding, they are no relation to Northern Cardinals; they’re not cardinals at all, but rather members of the tanager family Thraupidae. This one was certainly more sociable than Ohio’s state bird, allowing me to get fairly close to snap a few decent shots.

It’s mostly known to stick to northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, so it was a bit unusual to find it as north as Quito, some 3000km north of Bolivia-Peru border near La Paz. (It appears on Wikipedia’s Birds of Ecuador list so my sighting wasn’t that unusual.) It’s also been introduced in several areas including Puerto Rico and Hawaii; searches will turn up lots of Red-crested Cardinals photos spotted in the latter.

I’m a stamp collector and was happy to read that Red-crested Cardinals have appeared on postage stamps in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. (I need to track those down.)

Red-Crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me at Birds of the World and Wikipedia):

• Size: Approximately 24-25 cm (9.4-9.8 in)
• Diet: Primarily seeds, fruits, and insects
• Habitat: Prefers open country, parks, and gardens; often found near water sources
• Physical Description:
  • Distinctive red crest and face; gray-brown body with a white belly, black wings and tail
• Breeding:
  • Breeds year-round in some areas; peak season varies by region; builds nests low in shrubs or trees, laying 2-4 eggs per clutch
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
• Unique Behaviors: Known for its striking vocalizations and social behaviors; often seen foraging in small groups
• Range and Migration:
  • Native to South America, found mostly in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay; non-migratory, though some local movements can occur in response to food availability

More:

• Red-Crested Cardinal at Birds of the World
• Red-Crested Cardinal at BirdLife DataZone
• Red-Crested Cardinal at eBird
• Red-Crested Cardinal at Avibase
• Red-Crested Cardinal at Wikipedia
• Red-crested Cardinal at Oiseaux.net
• Red-Crested Cardinal at iNaturalist

News, blog posts and academic articles:

• Good news; headline sums it up: Nine red-crested cardinals rescued as victims of illegal trafficking in an operation in the province of San Juan – Noticias Ambientales
• Study: Male Red-crested Cardinal plumage coloration is associated with parental abilities and breeding performance. Segura, L.N., Mahler, B. Sci Rep 9, 10958 (2019).
• Great summary of the 433 species of wild animal to be found in Sao Paolo, the Red-crested Cardinal among them. Wildlife in the Metropolis. Pesquisa FAPESP
• A prolific blogger’s write-up. Return of the Bird of the Week: Red-crested Cardinal – Wickersham’s Conscience

Photos from 27 May 2013; posted last updated on 15 November 2025