Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Although one of the most strikingly-colored species in Missouri, Painted Buntings often blend into tangles of vegetation. They associate with open woodlands and woodland edge, especially those adjacent to brushy fields. Nests are placed one to two meters above ground in bushes and low trees (Harrison 1975). Painted Buntings were not reported in Missouri at the turn of the century (Widmann 1907).

Code Frequency

Atlasers recorded Painted Buntings in only eight blocks. This species' habitat of rocky glades and thorny tangles is difficult to traverse and the single breeding confirmation reflects the scarcity of this species. Although not common anywhere, several birds have been reported outside Atlas blocks.

Distribution

Southwestern Missouri includes the northern edge of this species' range. The main range in Missouri is likely within the White River and Elk River natural sections. Most observations were locally distributed in glades and tangles with scattered cedars and honey locust. Several non-Atlas Project sightings were scattered north through the Osage Plains and east to Butler County. The authors know of no documented breeding records outside extreme southwestern Missouri.

Phenology

Atlas Project records suggest June and July as the best months to observe breeding evidence.

Notes

Painted Buntings are considered a frequent cowbird host (Ehrlich et al. 1988), but Atlasers did not report evidence of Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism.

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 8 (<1%) of 1,207 blocks

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