One of the most striking birds of Iberá: 18 to 20 cm. The plumage has a bright red, very prominent and erect head and crest, a grey back, and a white belly and throat. The bill is pale, horn-colored. The eyes are reddish-brown. The raised, tuft-like crest is the most distinctive feature and the one most sought after by photographers. It inhabits the edges of the gallery forest, riverside thickets and the shrubby grasslands of Iberá.
Behaviour
Solitary or in pairs. It eats seeds, fruit and insects. It perches on exposed perches in the shrubs and trees, where the contrast of the red of its head and crest is very photogenic. The song is a soft, musical melody. The male raises its crest in display and alarm.
How and when to see it
Year-round. Easy to see at the forest edges and thickets of every portal. One of the favorites to photograph.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where red-crested cardinal has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where red-crested cardinal lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiences with local storytelling and a cultural take on the marshes.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Horseback journeys across a network of refuges in Iberá. Multi-day rides with overnight…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Guided hiking. Guided visit to museums, historic sites, chapels and trails of the town…★ 5.0 - Reserva Estero Camba Trapo
Private nature reserve of Ecoposada del Estero, on the Camba Trapo road. One of the…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameRed-crested Cardinal
- Scientific nameParoaria coronata
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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