The female Cardinal is a small bird with a muted brownish-red plumage, featuring subtle touches of red on the crest, wings, and tail. Found mainly in North America, it inhabits woodlands, gardens, and urban areas. The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Cardinals are known for their beautiful song, and a fun fact about the female is that she is often responsible for choosing the nesting site.