Painted Bunting

Description:

What a brilliant splash of color to brighten the backyard. These shy birds are a welcome new addition to our yard. They keep company with our large family of cardinals, which isn't surprising since they are in both in the same family : CARDINALIDAE. They are often trapped and then sold illegally as caged birds in Mexico and the Caribbean. This disturbing poaching has put pressure on their breeding populations and has resulted in them being listed as IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened. The male is quite easy to identify, and the females unique green makes her one of a kind in America as well.

Habitat:

Painted Buntings love dense brush and bushes that are near grassy areas or woodland edges.

Notes:

Nice to see them here in Suburbia, though they are slightly north of their winter range.