Painted Bunting

A Painted Bunting, Puerto Morelos, Mexico; 12/24/10.

I always thought that the Painted Bunting was one of the most colorfully striking birds in America, and I living in Northern Illinois, resigned myself of the probability that my chances of seeing one was very small because it resides in the south central states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana) and the south Atlantic Coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. However, I never considered that I might see one in its winter range of Mexico. It also migrates to Central America, the Caribbean Islands and the southern tip of Florida.

So when I saw this beautiful bird flitting around a garden of a small homestead in the middle of the Yucatan Forest, and there is no other bird that I know of that looks like this, I knew it was a Painted Bunting, and Luis quickly confirmed it as soon as he saw it.

Its unmistakable blue head with red eye ring and red underparts, contrasting with its yellowish green back is not like any other bird in the U.S. It's great day when one sees a Painted Bunting, especially in an area when i totally didn't expect it.

A somewhat blurry photo of the beautiful Painted Bunting, Puerto Morelos, Mexico; 12/24/10.

The same Painted Bunting, Puerto Morelos, Mexico; 12/24/10.