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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bluetail" data-source="post: 174966" data-attributes="member: 4248">The bird is certainly quite a bit paler than the Cardinals I've seen in North America. And the pink on the nape and upper flanks is most unconvincing. I'm sure American birds are uniform red in these areas. I'm not sure how common they are in captivity these days, but my 1980 edition of the Collins "Cage and Aviary Birds" says that cardinals in generalare superb aviary birds and require much the same care as the buntings, but are stronger and can be aggressive when nesting, which they will do in a surprising assortment of places. Of the Northern Cardinal (which it actually calls "Virginian Cardinal") it says:Although not closely related to the true cardinals this "cardinal grosbeak" is a superb aviary songster which requires similar care. It is prolific and is best housed and seen in a spacious, well-planted enclosure.</blockquote>