a way cool-looking bird looking for a feast. They were introduced in the 1960s but now can be seen across Hawaiʻi in parking lots, short grassy fields, and in shrubby areas.

Despite its name it is not closely related to birds in the Cardinal family but belongs to the Tanager family.

The red-crested cardinal is found on all of the main Hawaiian islands except the Big Island, whereas the yellow-billed cardinal is found only on the Big Island. Both birds are native to South America. In Hawaiʻi, they prefer lower elevation areas, which they can inhabit without worry due to their resistance to avian malaria.