The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is named, both commonly and scientifically, for its colour – cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, wear distinctive red robes and caps. It has a distinctive crest on the head and a mask on the face which is black in the male and grey in the female. The Northern cardinal is common in south-eastern Canada and eastern and central United States, ranging throughout all Central America. It is very territorial – especially the male. He can often be seen fighting his own reflection, even in the wing-mirror of a car, thinking it's another male cardinal in his territory and he is fighting it for dominance and territory and thinking that this imaginary cardinal is after his mate.
