Male and Juvenile Cardinal by Andrew Hartridge
Cardinals, in the family Cardinalidae, are passerine birds found in North and South America. They are also known as cardinal-grosbeaks and cardinal-buntings.
Historically, the South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria have been placed in the tanager family Thraupidae. However, DNA analysis of the genera Piranga (which includes the scarlet tanager, summer tanager, and western tanager), Chlorothraupis, and Habia showed their closer relationship to the cardinal family. They have been reassigned to that family by the American Ornithological Society.