Red-capped Cardinal - Ecology

Ecology

The Red-capped Cardinal feeds on insects, rice and fruit. It is usually found in conspicuous pairs or family groups. If there is a well-marked breeding season, it extends over much of the year. The Red-capped Cardinal has been recorded to breed at least from June to September in northern South America but at Sacha Lodge at the Napo River (Ecuador) an adult was seen feeding a fledgling Shiny Cowbird (a brood parasite of the Red-capped Cardinal) in late March. This suggests that breeding can also occur as early as February/March. There is no indication for a difference in breeding seasons between the Red-capped and the Masked Cardinals.

They build a shallow open cup nest, some 9–10 cm wide and 7 cm high outside with a 7 cm wide by 4 cm deep cup, in a tree or some other secure spot. For nest material, it uses rootlets, thin twigs, and ferns. The clutch is two or three eggs. These have a background colour varying between whitish and dull olive and have dense dark brown flecks and blotches, heavier at the blunt end. They measure about 21-22 by 16 mm. This species is parasitised by the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis).