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Wild About Illinois Birds
Tanagers, Cardinals, Buntings and Dickcissels
Family and Species Gallery
Order Passeriformes - These are birds with adaptations for holding on to thin twigs or stems. Three of the toes on each foot face forward and one backward to help it grasp and balance on small branches.
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Buntings and Allies) - These birds have a thick bill for crushing seeds. They are medium-sized birds, with the male’s feathers more brightly colored than those of the female. They eat insects and fruits as well as seeds.
summer tanager (Piranga rubra)
scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)
western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea)
painted bunting (Passerina ciris)
dickcissel (Spiza americana)