The Northern Cardinal is a large songbird with a long tail, red feathers and a large crest.
The Northern Cardinal is a distinctive American bird. The male has red feathers with a sharp crest, while the females are brown with red accents. They live year round in the eastern and southeastern portions of the United States and northern central America. Their bright coloring and song have attracted bird-watchers young and old.
Young Children
Younger children may start by drawing or painting the Northern Cardinal on paper. Provide lots of red crayons or non-toxic paint for this craft. Children may also turn paper plates into cardinals sitting in a nest. Fold over one paper plate and cut it in half. Roll one half of the plate to make the bird's head in a cone shape. Glue the sides together and glue the opening of the cone to finish the head. Roll the other half of the plate to form the body. Glue it together like the head and fold down the point to glue the head to the body. Cut wings from another paper plate and glue them to the body. Create a nest by cutting a paper plate in half and gluing the curved portion together. Paint the bird red and glue it into the nest.
Older Children
Older children may create bird feeders to attract cardinal birds to their backyard. Use an old cylinder potato chip container and decorate it with paint and stickers. Cut out three holes around the opening of the can so birdseed will come out. With an adult, drill two holes at the bottom of the can next to each other. String twine through the holes so you may hang it in a tree. Hot glue the container lid to a plastic plate. Fill the container with bird seed that has sunflower seeds -- a favorite with cardinals. Push the lid back on and turn over the container to finish your bird feeder.
Gifts
Paint a wooden photo frame and natural wood bird from a craft store. Be sure to paint your bird red with a black beak so that it looks like a cardinal. Use wood glue to attach the bird to the frame. Another simple gift about cardinal birds would be a finger puppet made from red felt. Print out a photo of a cardinal and pin it to wool red felt. Cut out two pieces of felt in the shape of the bird. Sew it together with red embroidery thread and sew on a black beak. Remember to leave an opening for the finger.
Educational
An educational craft about cardinals would be a painting with a "C" for cardinal. Paint a red bird with a nest full of baby birds, and add a large letter "C" and the word "cardinal." Place the painting in a classroom or child's room. Listen to cardinal bird songs from websites such as Bird Jam and All About Birds. Decorate the cover of a jewel case with a Northern Cardinal and play bird songs to educate others about the bird calls.
Related posts
Chickadees live in cold climates during the winter.More than 800 species of wild birds exist in the United States and Canada, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Some birds live in groups...
Red cardinal art projects for preschoolers.The cardinal, nicknamed "red bird," is a well known American bird. This vividly recognizable creature makes itself at home in the northern U.S....
Preschoolers can make a simple cardinal craft for school, home or church.The cardinal is a famous bird for its bright red appearance. Cardinals are also a popular name in sports, with "Cardin...
Peacocks are among the most colorful birds in the world.Peacocks rival macaws, flamingos and toucans as some of the world’s most colorful birds. The males are memorable for their bright blue bodie...
Cardinals live in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States, and remain stationary all year round. You can identify a cardinal by comparing the characteristics of this bird...
