Like many bird names, cadrinals do not form a monophyletic group.
They are not even all in the same family including the typical cardinals in the genus Cardinalis (Cardinalidae) and the red-headed cardinals in the genus Paroaria (Thraupidae).
It is ambiguity all the way down - Thanks DNA.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
Painted bunting Passerina ciris
Lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena)
Blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata)