Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 29,815 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Painted Bunting: observations by month (U.S.)
About Painted Bunting
The painted bunting (Passerina ciris) is a species of bird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae, that is native to North America. The bright plumage of the male only comes in the second year of life; in the first year they can only be distinguished from the female by close inspection.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Painted Bunting by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 18,756 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 4,905 | January | Oct–Apr |
| South Carolina | 1,901 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 943 | May | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 707 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Louisiana | 651 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 523 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Arkansas | 173 | May | May–Jul |
| Arizona | 145 | August | Aug–Sep |
| California | 144 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 120 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 113 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Kansas | 85 | May | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | 83 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Mexico | 75 | August | May–Sep |
| New York | 59 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Pennsylvania | 58 | January | Dec–Jan |
| New Jersey | 48 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Virginia | 41 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Tennessee | 30 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 29 | May | May–Jul |
| Ohio | 29 | March | Feb–May |
| Colorado | 28 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 25 | June | May–Jul |
| Oregon | 21 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Delaware | 19 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Michigan | 17 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 16 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Minnesota | 12 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 12 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Utah | 7 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 6 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Connecticut | 5 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Washington | 5 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Summer Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Western Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Painted Bunting?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Painted Bunting most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, South Carolina.