Species Name: Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Length: 5.5" WS 8.5"

Description: Sparrow-sized, male has deep iridescent blue head, red breast and belly, green feathers on back. One of the most colorful birds in North America. Large curved bill; plain greenish plumage of female distinctive. First year birds are plain and drab green.

Range: Areas of scattered brush and trees, riparian thickets, weedy and shrubby areas across southern U.S., east to Florida; Winters in n Florida, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico south to Panama.

Habitat: Urban areas, suburbs, parks, farms, ranches, roadsides, feeders. Normally shy and skittish, especially the males.

Nesting: Thickets brush and trees 6' to 25'. Also occasionally in vine tangle. Nest is well made deep cup of grass, forbs, leaves, lined with fine grass, hair. EGGS: Pale bluish-white or grayish-white, spotted with reddish-brown concentrated toward large end. 0.8 (19 mm). CHICK DEVELOPMENT: Female incubates. Incubation takes 11-12 days. Development is altricial (immobile, downless, eyes closed, fed). Young leave the nest after 12-14 days. Female tends young with help from male.

Diet: Primarily seeds and insects

Odd Facts: Common Cowbird host; Male extremely pugnacious on territory; territorial disputes between males described as frequently bloody and sometimes fatal. Courtship: male flattens out with wings and tail spread, and fluffs plumage; actions are jerky and stiff, with alternating periods of activity and quiet. Popular as cage bird in mainland wintering grounds of the U.S.

Tips on Photography: Due to their shy nature, Painted Buntings are extremely difficult to photograph. However, I have found two techniques that will work. The first is to find birds on breeding territory and try to catch them singing or bringing food to the young. My second method is to setup a water drip and perch - Buntings, like most all passerines, are suckers for dripping water! This past spring, I had a particularly bold male coming to my dripper for several weeks. He would allow me to stand in the open not more than 15' away, and flash had no ell effect on him.

Related or Similar Species: Structure like other buntings, but bill slightly longer with curved culmen. It has been suggested that isolated eastern and western populations of Painted Bunting represent two separate species based on differences in molt timing and migration routes, but individuals are not distinguishable in the field.

Identification: Familiarity in its range and tolerance of people in both urban and country settings makes this an easy bird for almost everyone to identify. Many people confuse House Finches with Purple Finches although the latter lack the streaking down the sides. Males are easier to identify than females. Their distinctive flight calls are often the best way of distinguishing between finch species in the field.

Advice on Photographing: House Finches are not particularly wary of people. They are among the easiest birds to attract and photograph at your back yard feeders and bird bath. They will allow close approach within reason, and flash will usually not bother them. I find that placing perches near my feeders produces natural looking images.

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