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Painted bunting. (Passerina ciris, also called Nonpareil)

By BARBARA OEHLBECK

On wings of cheer and joy, the painted buntings are back in this part of our world. They seem to be a bit out of schedule which is that they usually leave us here in (Florida) by late October, and return in mid-April. But who cares when they appear! Just so they don’t forget us. To those of us who cherish the sight of them, Painted Buntings are among the most colorful birds of the Sunshine State.

The head of the male is deep blue. Its chest and belly are brilliant-reddish orange while its wings and tail are dark blue and its back is a greenish-yellow.

The female Painted Bunting is not “painted” so brilliantly as her mate, nevertheless she is a stunning bird of bright green above and light green below.

And they require so little. They love backyard patches of tangled vines and shrubs which is their favorite cover material along with dense, brushy vegetation along roadsides and fence lines. And they take thankfully to water, most anything that will hold fresh water, Florida’s abundance of ponds, rivers, runs, and creeks are also highly to their liking.

Painted Buntings breed from northern Brevard County continuing north along the St. Johns River as well as coastal counties along the Atlantic.

Both the male and female build the cup-shaped nest in which they produce one to two broods per year, each with three to four eggs. Spanish moss is a favorite building material and they prefer placing their nest at the end of a branch in the moss.

In some areas they are seen frequently at feeding stations although they also feed on small fruits and various insects. Some of these jewels of the sky over-winter in central and south Florida.

There are those who vow that no other bird compares with the male Painted Bunting. Its brilliant, stunning colors stand out like a rainbow.