Nest-vicinity song exchanges may coordinate biparental care of northern cardinals

In species with biparental care, communication between the parents may increase the efficiency and decrease the risks of care delivery. In northern cardinals, Cardinalis cardinalisthe female's singing from the nest may provide information that allows her conspicuous mate to target his visits to the nest to times when food is needed, saving energy and flights that may attract nest predators. Thirteen pairs of cardinals were recorded in 25 nestings over six summers in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. When a male with nestlings sang or called within 12 m of the nest, his probability of bringing food to the nest varied with his mate's response. The male was more likely to come to the nest when the female sang than when she did not, unless she responded to the male's song with a matching song type. Most males were least likely to come to the nest when their mates matched their songs.