Gary Helm
“Without Equal”
Painted buntings are divided into an eastern and a western population. The eastern population lives only in the coastal regions of northern Florida up to North Carolina. The population in the west ranges from Louisiana and Texas up to Kansas and winters mainly in Mexico and southwards to Panama, while those from the east winter in southern Florida, the Florida Keys being one of these locations, and occasionally in Cuba and the Bahamas. The western population breeds in a habitat consisting of partially open areas with scattered brush, shrubbery and riparian thickets. The eastern birds choose scrub communities and the edges of maritime hammocks. The winter habitats are similar to each other, being tropical savanna and tropical forest margins.
Painted buntings are one of the most spectacularly colored and visually impressive birds in the United States and are the only U.S. bird with a blue head along with red underparts.
The French word ‘nonpareil’, is used for this species. It means “without equal,” and refers to the bird’s splendid plumage.
I found this one along with five others including males and females in my backyard. They have spent the Winter with me in Polk County, Florida, over the last several years.
They left again a few days ago. Hope they have a safe trip home and look forward to their return next year.
“Without Equal”
Painted buntings are divided into an eastern and a western population. The eastern population lives only in the coastal regions of northern Florida up to North Carolina. The population in the west ranges from Louisiana and Texas up to Kansas and winters mainly in Mexico and southwards to Panama, while those from the east winter in southern Florida, the Florida Keys being one of these locations, and occasionally in Cuba and the Bahamas. The western population breeds in a habitat consisting of partially open areas with scattered brush, shrubbery and riparian thickets. The eastern birds choose scrub communities and the edges of maritime hammocks. The winter habitats are similar to each other, being tropical savanna and tropical forest margins.
Painted buntings are one of the most spectacularly colored and visually impressive birds in the United States and are the only U.S. bird with a blue head along with red underparts.
The French word ‘nonpareil’, is used for this species. It means “without equal,” and refers to the bird’s splendid plumage.
I found this one along with five others including males and females in my backyard. They have spent the Winter with me in Polk County, Florida, over the last several years.
They left again a few days ago. Hope they have a safe trip home and look forward to their return next year.