a committee of the New York State Ornithological Association
Gallery
of New York Rarities
Painted Bunting
An unusual finch showed up at the feeder of Chris
Gates on May 11, 2002 in the Town of Greece in Monroe County. After
some initial confusion, Chris identified the bird and much to the
delight of area birders, reported it as a Painted Bunting (Passerina
ciris). Over the next five days, the bird made regular appearances
to his niger seed feeder where its larger size than the American
Goldfinches also dining there, was apparent. The female of this
species is hardly a match for the gaudy male and it was referred
to by one observer, who had been hoping to see an adult male, as
an "Unpainted Bunting".
Most interesting was the manner in which it fed on
this type of feeder. Unlike the goldfinches which leisurely hung
upside-down, the Painted Bunting pirouetted on its perch, snatching
a seed on the way around. Plumage color is the best way to tell
this species from other North American buntings - the greenish
upperparts and yellowish underparts distinguish this bird.
