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A seasonal reflection on distance and the comfort of a familiar bird.
A few weeks ago, I moved far from a place I'd come to call home, and the holidays — a time meant for togetherness — have made that distance feel even more pronounced. I find myself missing the ease of living near friends, the daily routines that shaped my sense of belonging, and cheerful visits from songbirds to my garden fountain. This feeling is a familiar one. When I relocated from the Northeast to Southern California, I also left behind the closeness of friendships and the simple joys that enriched my life.
That sense of longing reminds me of a little Northern Cardinal made of red-dyed corn husks that I picked up at the beginning of my cross-country journey. I brought it along as a reminder of home, setting it on the dashboard of the U-Haul by day and on hotel counters at night. Once settled into my new place, it landed on my office shelf.
It’s no surprise that I chose a Northern Cardinal to accompany me. Cardinals are non-migratory birds known for their strong sense of place. They’re a familiar sight year-round across much of their range, basically the Eastern half of the United States. This may explain why they are the state bird in seven states — more than any other species. States across the Midwest and East designated them as their emblem over the course of the 20th century, drawn to their “splendid color and song” (North Carolina), dependable “year-round” presence in backyards (Illinois), and role as “a symbol of warmth and home” (West Virginia).
Over the past century, cardinals have expanded their range far beyond their traditional stronghold in the eastern U.S. These birds prefer habitats with thick, shrubby cover rather than dense forests or open grasslands. As their environments have changed — thanks to milder winters, increasing landscape diversity, and the popularity of backyard bird feeders — cardinals have moved steadily north into southern Canada and westward as far as eastern Arizona, places where they were rare or absent. Once they establish a territory, they tend to stick around unless compelled to move, and even then, they don't like to go far. Males defend their territory aggressively, even going so far as to relentlessly attack their own reflections in windows or car mirrors during spring mating season.
It's hard not to love a Northern Cardinal. The males are particularly eye-catching, with their bright red feathers, distinct crests, and masked faces. The females, while subtler, are beautiful in their own right — dressed in warm tan plumage with soft red highlights and cheerful coral-colored beaks. In the starker winter months, when many birds fade into muted seasonal plumage, Northern Cardinals are real standouts.
The sight of a Northern Cardinal can truly brighten your day, especially during this time of year. While this season often brings the warmth of being surrounded by loved ones, it can also surface feelings of loneliness or stress, even for those who usually don’t experience them or who find themselves alone or far from familiar faces. When that happens, even a fleeting glimpse of a cardinal can be surprisingly helpful.
One way to counter feelings of disconnection is to participate in the Christmas Bird Count. Since 1900, people have been going out between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 to watch and record the birds in their neighborhoods. This long-running effort helps inform conservation by tracking changes in bird populations over time. No special expertise is needed — just a little curiosity and some time. Whether you join a group or count birds from your own backyard, you instantly become part of a growing community of citizen scientists contributing to this important work. And as an added benefit, sometimes, simply connecting with nature can open unexpected possibilities.
As for that little corn-husk cardinal from my past moves, it hasn't been left behind. My longtime companion is on its way to my new home and will be perched on my desk later this month.
It’s not too late to sign up or follow along for Audubon’s 126th Annual Christmas Bird Count.
The Northern Cardinal once shared first place for the most popular state bird with the Western Meadowlark. Find out how it regained the lead in Voice of the Grasslands: The Western Meadowlark.
If this season feels particularly heavy or if the distance from loved ones feels more complicated than expected, remember that you’re not alone. Help is available 24/7, year-round, through 988 Lifeline. Just call or text 988; it's free, confidential, and you don’t have to share your name.
