Painted Bunting

Description:

Male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) at Loxahatchee NWR, Delray Beach, Florida.

Habitat:

The Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is a species of bird in the Cardinal family, Cardinalidae, that is native to North America. The male Painted Bunting is often described as the most beautiful bird in North America. Its beautiful colors, dark blue head, green back, red rump and underparts, make it easy to identify, but is very difficult to spot since it hides in foliage even when it is singing. The plumage of female and juvenile Painted Buntings is green and yellow-green, serving as camouflage. The Painted Bunting is found in thickets, woodland edges and brushy areas, along roadsides, in suburban areas, and gardens. The male was once a very popular caged bird, but its capture and holding is currently illegal. Populations are declining on the East Coast where habitat is being lost to development. The breeding range includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, and northern Mexico. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Bun......)