With their fiery feathers and black, warpaint-esque mask, cardinals are some of the most visually arresting birds in the sky, so it’s no surprise they rank pretty darn high on many a bird lover’s top ten list.
Their striking plumage also makes them a vibrant, eye-catching theme for a plethora of highly giftable merchandise, from tote bags to stained glass sun catchers, and I’ve curated a list of choice pieces below.
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Sweet Pea Seeds
No products found.In my opinion, the absolute best cardinal gift is one that will get the recipient closer to their favorite animal, which is why I’m choosing sweet pea seeds for my top spot.
Cardinals absolutely LOVE sweet pea plants, so imagine how many would visit a garden full of them! The yard would be positively ablaze with the ruddy feathers of these wonderful birds.
But sweet peas are just one of the suitable options. Cardinals are also big fans of purple majesty millet, nasturtium, purple coneflower, sunflowers, and safflower.
Any of these seeds would make a fantastic gift for a cardinal enthusiast, so maybe it would be a good idea to subtly find out which plant they prefer in their garden.
Of course, this sort of gift only makes sense if there is a cardinal population in the area, so bear that in mind before buying some seeds for your nearest and dearest.
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Cardinal Watering Can
No products found.If the recipient does live amongst cardinals, once the seeds are sown, they’ll need plenty of water to grow into big, bushy beacons calling the local cardinal population to come and hang out, so my second suggestion is this AMAZING cardinal watering can.
And once the day’s watering is done, it can be set down and used as a beautiful decoration — No hiding this watering can in the shed; it’s far too fabulous for that!
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Cardinal Nesting Box
No products found.Playing host to a Vatican of cardinals in your backyard is an awe-inspiring experience, but there is one unfortunate thing to consider… they’ll eventually fly off and head for the wild or someone else’s back green, unless, that is, they live on the property!
With this nesting box designed especially to accommodate cardinals, you can coexist with your favorite feathered friends for as long as they care to stay put.
Just picture seeing fledgling babies take their first flight, and watching the fiery hue of their parents gradually take hold of their fluffy plumage — Tell me that doesn’t sound magical.
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Cardinal Feed
No products found.Cardinal feed is another awesome gift idea if you’re looking to treat the bird lover in your life.
With this sizable bag of super high quality fruit and nut snacks and supplies, they’ll have cardinals eating from the palm of their hand… maybe literally!
The fruit content of this feed mix provides shed loads of healthy nutrients, while the nut content provides loads of healthy fats that help wintering cardinals survive the cold, encouraging them to visit year round.
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Cardinal Solar Lantern
No products found.Cardinals are so brightly colored, that they’re almost incandescent, making them the perfect thematic fit for this exceptional solar lantern.
Not only will this lantern illuminate the way ahead and on the darkest nights, it’ll augment the space with an ambiance that’s sure to be a hit when the next party spills out into the backyard.
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Portable Cardinal Coffee Mug
No products found.Allow the recipient to spread their wings and take their love of cardinals on the move with this fantastic portable coffee mug.
The black background of the ceramic emphasizes the red of the cardinals and berries, so it’s as visually warm as it will be physically with a lovely steaming cup of Joe inside.
And the food-grade silicone lid really is something else!
Featuring both drink and breathe holes, as well as an easy-open function for when you need a quick slurp while you’re on the go, this is the wanderer’s mug of choice, sure to make gloomy mornings a little brighter and heavy workloads a little lighter.
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Cardinal Trinket Box
No products found.The expertly painted cardinals take what would be a perfectly fine (albeit a little plain) trinket box, and make it a real feature piece. .
If the recipient you have in mind is already swamped with cardinal jewelry, this box celebrates their love of the bird in an aesthetically pleasing and practical way.
Now they have the perfect place to store all their cardinal jewelry, and as a bonus, it adds a lovely (yet tasteful) splash of color to any room.
That said, this cute little box is, well… little, so there’s a good chance they’ll have to find a few other places to keep their various cardinal knick-knacks, but this will be a great start.
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Cardinal Jigsaw Puzzle
No products found.This jigsaw puzzle is pure disassembled joy! Put it back together and you’ll be met by a summery scene in which cardinals and company frolic amongst the bushy, pom-pom flowers of a hydrangea.
Even a red admiral butterfly joins in on the fun!
It’s only around 500 pieces, so it’s not going to keep someone held up in their home for weeks trying to put it all together, but this just means they’ll get to appreciate the full picture faster.
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Cardinal Coasters
No products found.Should the person you’re shopping for have recently purchased some new or antique wooden furniture, now is the perfect time to gift them some lovely coasters, and these cardinal coasters are the best of the best!
As finely crafted stoneware, these coasters add oodles of sophistication to a coffee or side table, while the cardinals add vibrant splashes of color, keeping a space both tidy and fun! — The ultimate way for a cardinal fan to keep unsightly coffee rings at bay.
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Cardinal Christmas Ornaments
No products found.The crimson plumage of cardinals makes them a remarkably Christmassy bird, so when the next holiday season rolls around, why not treat that someone special with these lovely cardinal-themed tree decorations?
Gift them just before the big day, and they can pop them on a spare branch in time for the man in red’s arrival, helping to get the entire household into the holiday spirit.
And if there doesn’t happen to be a spare branch, you can guarantee that some of the old Christmas staples will be getting the boot to make space for these lovely new additions.
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Stained Glass Cardinal Sun Collector
No products found.Not only will this pretty, stained glass cardinal sun collector entice more birds to a backyard, if someone would rather keep it indoors, it’s a fantastic way to add some warmth to a room.
Even on a relatively gloomy day, this guardian cardinal will take what meager natural light passes through, paint it a strawberry red, and cast it into the room, forming an enticing ember-like glow.
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Cardinal Tote Bag
No products found.Tote bags are a super stylish way to cut down one’s reliance on plastic shopping bags, which in turn, will help to save the environment and ensure cardinals always thrive in the wild, meaning this is a gift that keeps on giving.
Every time the recipient pops to the grocery store or the mall, they’ll be doing their part to put a stop to the environmental crises we’re caught in, all while showing off their love of cardinals — Pretty wholesome, right?
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Cardinal-Shaped Feeder
No products found.I wanted to include a feeder on this list, as any bird lover relishes an opportunity to bring more birds into their backyard flock, but instead of any old cylindrical one, I suggest treating someone near and dear to this cardinal-shaped design.
Even on days when the birds aren’t a-bitin’, they can look out into their yard, see this festive feeder, and feel the presence, not just of their favorite bird, but of you and what you mean to them.
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Cardinal Coffee Mug
No products found.You really can’t go wrong with a simple cardinal coffee mug.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive gift that will get plenty of use and bring a smile to the recipient’s face every morning, it’s a no-brainer!
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Final Thoughts
If someone is coo-coo for cardinals in your life, any one of the items discussed here today will put a smile on their face, but do be sure to subtly establish what they do and don’t already have.
If they’re a prolific cardinal lover, you may have to choose one of the more off the wall suggestions on this list, or perhaps a combination gift that provides an experience as well as a nice object.
For instance, pairing the cardinal watering can with sweet pea seeds is a celebration of their passion in itself, yet it encourages them to take action, plant the seeds, and invite real cardinals to their backyard.
There’s no better gift for a cardinal lover than facilitating recurring visits from their number one bird!
