28 Famous Quotes About Cardinals and Loved Ones


Do you feel comforted when encountering a cardinal in nature? Many people do. Some feel that cardinals are visitors from Heaven. When they encounter a cardinal, they feel that their loved ones are sending them a message of peace, hope, and love from the afterlife.


For this reason, it’s common to find sympathy cards, wall hangings, cremation urns, and wind chimes decorated with cardinals.

Here are some quotes about cardinals, birds, and grief that may speak to you if you are a lover of these beautiful creatures.

Inspirational Quotes About Cardinals
Some of these quotes are from poems about cardinals, which you might consider using in the funeral program for your loved one. Even if the selection is not specifically about our red, feathered friends, we hope that it brings you comfort as you experience the grief from a loved one’s passing.


1. “Stop and smile. For you know when you see me, it’s our special hello.”
Perhaps a flower or another type of bird reminds you of your loved one. What do you see in nature that reminds you of them? There are many different types of animals that are associated with death, with both positive and negative connotations.

2. “Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear.”
Even though this quote does not speak specifically about a cardinal, it comforts those who are missing a deceased loved one.

3. “As I sit in Heaven and watch you every day, I try to let you know with signs I never went away.”
Perhaps your sign comes from the visit of a cardinal, or maybe you feel connected to your loved one when encountering a particular scent or taste.

4. “She was no longer wrestling with the grief, but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts.” George Eliot
Seeing a cardinal may bring you a sense of peace as described in this quote.

5. “Guardians of blue sky, protecting from above. Singing sweet melodies of hope and love.”
This would be a great quote to accompany a photograph of a cardinal.

6. “I saw a cardinal in my tree, the bright red color so beautiful to see. Thoughts of loved ones brought a smile to my face, as I watched it flitter about with grace. Visitors from heaven they are said to be, I feel blessed that you came to see me.”
This short poem speaks about the joy that can come from seeing a cardinal after a loved one’s passing.

7. “Like a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memories survive in time of sorrow.” Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson is the author of Treasure Island.

8. “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” Khalil Gibran
Perhaps the loss of your loved one makes it easier to feel joy at the simple things of life, like the song of a bird.

9. “Every life has a measure of sorrow, and sometimes this is what awakens us.” Steve Tyler
Perhaps a recent death awakened you to life. Do you notice the birds more now than ever before?

10. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26
Birds are also great reminders that life is too short to worry about the small stuff.

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Quotes About Cardinals and Death
Most of these quotes about death are comforting. You might consider sharing these with someone who recently suffered a loss.

11. “In a world of such beauty as birds in flight, surely I can come to feel at home again, even after my loss.” Martha Whitmore Hickman
Give yourself time to “feel at home again.” You may find that the feeling comes and goes.

12. “May God grant you always: A sunbeam to warm you; A moonbeam to charm you; A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you.”
These comforting words are like a warm hug.

13. “You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.” Chinese Proverb
We know that this quote gives a less than flattering view of birds, but while visits from cardinals provide you with peace, visits from other birds may leave you with melancholy feelings.

14. “Feathers brightly colored red, angels from heaven it’s been said. Those we’ve lost come from above. To lend us strength and show their love.”
We love this quote about visiting cardinals.

15. “Cardinals appear when angels are near.”
You’ll find this quote on many wall hangings and sympathy cards.

16. “When I see you it’s a magical sign, and I am reminded every single time, that all will be alright and all will be just fine.”
Are you looking for a message of peace to share with your friend? Here is one to share.

17. “A cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them and miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you. Look for them. They’ll appear.”
We wish we knew who to attribute this quote to because it describes many people’s view of cardinals.

18. “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” Emily Dickinson
For many, cardinals are symbols of this immortal love that Emily Dickinson describes.

19. “Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.”
We hope that receiving a visit from a cardinal gives you the comfort you need.

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Quotes About Cardinals and Heaven
Here are quotes about cardinals, heaven, and the peace that comes when you receive gentle reminders of someone you lost.

20. “As long as I can I will look at this world for both of us. As long as I can I will laugh with the birds, I will sing with the flowers, I will pray to the stars, for both of us.” Sascha
Do you feel drawn to enjoying nature more after the loss of a loved one? Perhaps this quote speaks to you.

21. “When you awaken in the morning’s hush; I am the swift uplifting rush; Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die.” Mary Elizabeth Frye
This is a stanza from a famous poem called “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep.” You’ll often find this poem in funeral programs.

22. “When a cardinal appears in your yard, it’s a visitor from heaven.”
There are many different versions of this quote, as you can see from our next entry.

23. “When God sends a cardinal, it’s a visitor from heaven.”
We hope that the visit gives you peace.

24. “Keep a look out for the little red bird – it is there, your loved ones will be.” Victorian McGovern
Whether your visit comes from an actual cardinal or another type of red bird may not matter.

25. “The cardinal sings in early morning, Carving the cold with fog breath rhythm, A sing song defiance, A feathery red contrast.” Gregory D. Welch
This is a stanza from the poem “Cardinal Song.”

26. “My cardinal song is a call to you, To tell you that I miss you, too.” Elle Bee
We love this line from the poem “Red Feathered Soul.”

27. “The Cardinal sits upon the branch. He does not know which way to glance. He only knows that God above, Is looking down in deepest love. I look to you dear God above, And pray for your redeeming love, To guide me through my nights and days, And flight my fleeting fears away!” by Pam Waters Carson
?This poem is a reminder that grief sometimes feels like fear.

28. “Higher still and higher, From the earth thou springest, Like a cloud of fire; The blue deep thou wingest.” Percy Shelly
This is a stanza from a poem called “To a Skylark” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Even though this does not describe the flight of a cardinal, it still speaks of the peace many feel from viewing our feathered friends.

Cardinals Offer Comfort to Many
Even if you don’t think that cardinals are visitors from heaven, seeing them in nature gives comfort to many. Cardinals offer reminders that there’s still beauty in the world, even if your loved one is gone. They are also reminders to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. Cardinals also remind us that God takes care of all creatures, no matter how big or small.