Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Warrenton, Virginia
photo by D.W. Maiden Warrenton, Virginia
While now considered a wild bird, in the 19th century the Northern Cardinal was a much sought after cage bird. Thousands of Cardinals were trapped in the winter in southern states to be sent to the north. Many more Cardinals were sent to Europe. This practice ended with the passage of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918. Northern Cardinals are also known as Virginia Nightingales and Redbirds.