Sometimes called the "Nonpareil," meaning "unrivalled," a fair way to describe the unbelievable colors of the male Painted Bunting. This species is locally common in the Southeast, around brushy areas and woodland edges. It is often secretive, staying low in dense cover. However, males sing their bright warbling songs from higher in the trees, partly hidden among foliage or sometimes out in the sun on an exposed perch. Some lucky Floridians have Painted Buntings coming to their bird feeders in winter.
Adult female is mostly dull green, paler and yellower below, especially in the center of the breast and belly. Lores duller. This pattern is retained year-round, although a small proportion of females in alternate plumage (worn roughly between March and September) may have some blue feathers on the head.
Briefly, immature Painted Buntings resemble adult females in plumage. Immature females are average duller than adult females (often with a slight grayish undertone to the plumage). Immature males are brighter than immature females. A high proportion (approximately 40%) of young male Painted Buntings acquire some patches of blue feathers on the head by a prealternate molt early in the second calendar year, when the plumage otherwise remains mostly green. The multi-colored adult plumage is not attained until the following prebasic molt, late in the second calendar year.
I found this female (99% sure) in my backyard. I have three pair of Painted Bunting spending the Winter with me. Polk County, Florida.
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