The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a common backyard bird found throughout much of eastern and central North America. Its bright red plumage and distinctive crest make it one of the most recognizable birds. However, northern cardinals have a more limited range in Canada compared to the United States. So are northern cardinals found in the province of Alberta?
The Range of the Northern Cardinal in North America
The northern cardinal has an extensive range across eastern and central North America. Its breeding range stretches from southeastern Canada, across the eastern and central United States, and into Mexico. Some key details about the cardinal’s range include:
- It is found across much of the eastern United States, ranging as far north as southeastern Canada and as far west as the Great Plains.
- In Canada, it breeds in southern Ontario, southern Quebec, and in small pockets of southeastern Manitoba.
- Its range extends south along the Gulf Coast and into Mexico.
- It is absent across much of the western half of the United States and Canada, including the province of Alberta.
So while northern cardinals have an extensive range spanning over 5 million square kilometers, their core breeding range centers on the eastern United States. The map below shows the breeding and wintering range of the northern cardinal in North America.
Why Northern Cardinals are Rare in Western Canada
What limits the northern cardinal’s range in western Canada and keeps it from expanding farther west? A few key factors play a role:
- Climate – Northern cardinals prefer warmer temperate climates. The winters in much of western Canada are too harsh for cardinals.
- Habitat – Cardinals prefer brushy woodland edges, thickets, gardens, and parks, habitats that become less common further west.
- Geography – Major geographical barriers, like the Rocky Mountains, restrict the cardinal’s westward expansion.
The northern cardinal reaches the northwest limit of its range in southeastern Manitoba. West of Manitoba, the climate becomes drier and colder, less ideal for cardinals. The Rocky Mountains and other large mountain ranges also impede the cardinal’s dispersal farther west across Alberta and British Columbia.
Occasional Sightings in Alberta
While northern cardinals do not breed or regularly occur in Alberta, there are occasional sightings in the province. Most sightings likely involve vagrant birds dispersing from central Canada:
- There are a small number of sightings in southeastern Alberta, close to the Manitoba border where cardinals may disperse from.
- Sightings increase near larger cities like Calgary and Edmonton. These may involve escaped captive birds.
- Sightings peak during colder months when vagrants are more likely to stray farther west.
However, these remain rare and intermittent sightings. Alberta and most of western Canada lack sufficient numbers of northern cardinals to constitute any established breeding population. Below is a summary of the status of northern cardinals in the Canadian provinces:
Province | Status of Northern Cardinal |
---|---|
Ontario | Common year-round resident across southern Ontario |
Quebec | Common year-round resident across southern Quebec |
Manitoba | Local breeding population in southeastern Manitoba |
Saskatchewan | Rare visitor |
Alberta | Rare visitor |
Could Northern Cardinals Establish in Alberta in the Future?
While rare now, could climate change and habitat changes allow northern cardinals to expand their range west into Alberta in the future? Here are some factors to consider:
- Warming temperatures due to climate change may make winters in Alberta more suitable for cardinals over time.
- Increased planting of trees and shrubs around rural homes, suburban sprawl, and urban green spaces provide more cardinal-friendly habitat.
- Backyard bird feeding by people provides a supplemental food source cardinals could potentially exploit.
- However, the Rocky Mountains remain a major barrier limiting westward expansion.
While range expansions north and west are anticipated for many eastern bird species due to climate change, major geographical barriers will likely prevent the northern cardinal from colonizing new regions of western Canada to any great degree. Periodic rare sightings in Alberta may continue, but permanent populations are not expected to become established there in the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
In summary, the northern cardinal has a breeding range centered in eastern North America that does not currently extend to the province of Alberta. Occasional rare sightings may occur in Alberta, particularly during winter months, but the province falls outside of the cardinal’s main range. While climate change may allow some geographic range expansion, Alberta remains climatically unsuitable and geographically isolated from core cardinal populations by the Rocky Mountains. Permanent breeding populations of northern cardinals are not anticipated in Alberta without a major range shift well beyond the cardinal’s current boundaries.