Painted Bunting image © Alan Murphy

Family: (Cardinalidae) Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings

Preferred Habitat: Thickets, woodland edges, gardens.

Seasonal Occurrence: Uncommon March through November. Lesser numbers in the summer with a few breeding in our area.

Notes: Only adult males have this spectacular coloring. Despite their brilliance they are often hard to see as they like to lurk in thickets. Females are an unusual solid green; juveniles are pale gray. In the spring, the most reliable locations to find them are along the coast at spring migrant hot spots. In the summer Brazos Bend State Park and Barker Reservoir are good possibilities.
- Susan Billetdeaux