Mid-April means the return of one of the most colorful songbirds in North America – the Painted Bunting! Male Painted Buntings are known for their technicolor plumage – a red breast, eye ring, and rump, a blue head and yellow-green back. The females are more muted but just as stunning, with lime-green feathers that are unlike any other bird in our area.

As Painted Buntings return from their wintering grounds in Central America and the Caribbean, listen for the song of the male bunting – a beautiful, warbling sound that equally matches its appearance! Despite their bright colors, learning the song is often the easiest way to locate this bird, as it tends to sing from an inconspicuous perch. You can listen to the song by clicking on the Painted Bunting box on the left. 

We’re fortunate at Beidler Forest to have Painting Buntings along our grassland trails. In fact, Painted Buntings are one of the bird species that we’ve been hoping will benefit from our land management efforts to restore Longleaf Pine and native grasses. In addition to looking along the trails, check the bird feeders in the grassland trail parking lot – Painted Buntings often visit these feeders to eat white millet, their favorite snack!