cardinals

Cardinals commonly refers to several subjects in biology, religion, and popular culture. In biology, cardinals are birds in the family Cardinalidae, with the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) being the best known. Males are bright red, while females tend to be brownish with reddish accents. They are seed-eating songbirds native to North America and parts of Central America, often found in woodlands, gardens, and hedgerows, where they are known for their melodic songs.

In the Roman Catholic Church, a cardinal is a senior official appointed by the pope. Cardinals typically serve as trusted advisers and administrators, and they participate in papal elections when they are under the age of 80. The College of Cardinals is organized into cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons, reflecting different roles and responsibilities within the church’s governance.

In sports and broader culture, Cardinals is a common team name named for the red color or the bird. Notable examples include the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball team; the Arizona Cardinals, a National Football League team; and the Louisville Cardinals, the athletic teams of the University of Louisville. The name is used by various other clubs and institutions, reflecting regional associations with the bird or the color.