Would cardinal parents leave their territory so their offspring can have it?

Question

I have had a pair of cardinals (well, more than a pair, but this is the pair my question concerns) that arrived when I put my feeder out. They had babies, and as soon as the youngest was able to feed on it's own (at my feeder) the parents have disappeared. I see both babies often, they seem fine & quite content. But I haven't seen either parent for a few weeks. (Normally, I see them many times a day.) I've searched other sites, and found that males generally don't like other males in their territory. (I would add that the other pair of cards I've seen have different territory, but have never fought with this pair at the feeder.) Could the reason the parents left be so the male baby could have the father's territory?

Answer 1

It's unlikely that the parents left the territory to the chicks. Most probably, the parents have begun migrating to their winter territory. Most people think that birds migrate in the fall...and of course they do. But many species begin in August (some even in late July) once the chicks are self-sufficient. Of course, if you live in an area where cardinals remain year round, then that's not the answer! Most likely they just found a better feeding station!