The most colorful bird at ROLF - the Painted Bunting

The Painted Bunting is also a rare bird to see. You would think with this beautiful and almost gaudy coloration, they would be seen more often.I saw a pair at ROLF is 1996, 2003, and 2 pairs in 2008. They are normally seen only in far southern Missouri. The Painted Bunting is found in thickets, woodland edges and brushy areas, along roadsides, in suburban areas, and gardens. Populations are declining on the East Coast where habitat is being lost to development. The breeding range includes Texas, Oklahoma, and southern Missouri.