Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

The Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is a common nesting bird of much of the south central U.S. including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. It also occurs in some areas of the south east such as Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas. Even though it is a common bird, I am surprised at how many people have never seen one. During May and June its song can be heard easily in Texas and with a little searching the observer can usually spot the singer. The photo shown immediately below of a singing male was taken in May, 2002, on a private ranch in Kenedy Co., Texas with a Canon EOS 1V and Canon EF500mm F4 IS lens with a 2X extender from a Gitzo tripod on Fuji Velvia.

The below photo was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4L IS lens and 2X extender in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in May, 2005.

The next fourteen shots below were taken in spring and early summer, 2006, in Hidalgo Co., Texas with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600 mm F/4 L IS lens with a 1.4X or a 2X extender. I will add a small caption below most of the shots.

The male above was probably a migrant, briefly visiting a small water hole.

The above bird is in female plumage.

The two shots above show a male bathing at a water hole on a hot April day.

The two shots above show a singing male on territory.

This male posed nicely while I was in a blind at a water hole.

The three shots above show female plumaged birds.

Male Painted Buntings in their first breeding season still look like females. The singing young
male above successfully held a territory in May and June 2006.

The two above shots show two different singing males. The bottom of the two shots
was taken at dawn with the rich light of the rising sun illuminating the singer.

Another territorial male.