northern cardinal

noun

: cardinal sense 5a(1)

… studies have shown that certain Indiana species, including the northern cardinal, have been inching farther north for more than 100 years.

—Robert Annis, Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2009

This seems to be the year of the northern cardinal as they are plentiful everywhere.

—Phyllis Yochem, Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times, 12 Feb. 2005

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

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