What is a Group of Cardinals Called? (Complete List + Why)
Last updated: February 20, 2023



Cardinals belong to the Cardinalidae family, of which there are around 53 species in 14 genera. However, when people think of cardinals, they almost invariably think of the Cardinalis genus, which contains the emblematic Northern cardinal which lives across much of North and Central America.

Cardinals are conspicuous birds, especially when there’s more than one together, so what is a group of cardinals called?

Groups of cardinals are called a few collective nouns, but some of the most common is a college of cardinals, a conclave of cardinals, and a deck of cardinals. Cardinals are named after cardinals in the catholic church, who wear bright red gowns and pointy hats which somewhat resemble the crest atop the bird.

Cardinals aren’t particularly sociable, especially in the case of the territorial Northern cardinal. Even outside of the breeding season, groups of cardinals are relatively small, numbering up to 40 to 60 birds at the most.

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