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Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Bird · family Cardinalidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
15 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
14 years[4]

The Painted Bunting is a bird in the family Cardinalidae, order Passeriformes[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide, and it is native to 15 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Painted Bunting a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5B, Secure for breeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B (Secure (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Painted Bunting lives

NatureServe lists the Painted Bunting as native in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas[3]. State ranks differ across that list[9]. Among states, the most observation records on GBIF come from Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma and Georgia[10]. Those counts follow where people watch and report, not how many birds live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S3MOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S2MAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S4BKSArkansas: native, state rank S4BARTennessee: native, state rank S2TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S2BNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3BSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNRBOKLouisiana: native, state rank S5BLAMississippi: native, state rank S3BMSAlabama: native, state rank S2BALGeorgia: native, state rank S3GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4BTXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (15 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS2BImperiled (breeding)
ArizonaS2MImperiled (migrant)
ArkansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
FloridaS2Imperiled
GeorgiaS3Vulnerable
KansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
LouisianaS5BSecure (breeding)
MississippiS3BVulnerable (breeding)
MissouriS3Vulnerable
New MexicoS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
North CarolinaS2BImperiled (breeding)
OklahomaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
South CarolinaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
TennesseeS2Imperiled
TexasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records woodland with hardwood trees, shrubland, savanna, old fields, suburban areas and orchards, and areas beside rivers and streams as habitat[11]. In the southern part of the country, it uses partly open places with scattered brush and trees, weedy and shrubby patches, and woodland edges[12]. It nests in a tangle of bushes or vines, usually 1 to 2 meters up[12]. NatureServe also notes that few habitat details have been measured well[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Painted Bunting eats mainly grass seeds, and also insects and spiders[13][14]. An adult is typically 14 cm (6 in) long and weighs about 16 g[15][16]. Eggs are laid from March to July, mostly in May and June[17]. A clutch is usually three to four eggs, and the female sits on them for 11 to 12 days[17]. Young birds leave the nest at 8 to 14 days old[17]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 12 years[18]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 14 years 1 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 14 cm (6 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 16 g (0.6 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[18] 12 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 14 years 1 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 4
Gestation or incubation[20] 11 days
Female maturity[21] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[14] Invertivore, Granivore
Migration[22] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[23]

  • 100% seeds

When to look for it

The Painted Bunting is active during the day[24]. NatureServe calls it a long-distance migrant, though populations can differ[22]. The western population starts its fall trip two months earlier than the eastern one[25]. On GBIF, most United States records fall in April, May and June[26]. Those numbers show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 6,755 recordsJanFebruary: 7,169 recordsFebMarch: 4,626 recordsMarApril: 102,334 recordsAprMay: 143,922 recordsMayJune: 81,841 recordsJunJuly: 64,987 recordsJulAugust: 36,708 recordsAugSeptember: 24,505 recordsSepOctober: 11,080 recordsOctNovember: 3,155 recordsNovDecember: 4,260 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January6,755
February7,169
March4,626
April102,334
May143,922
June81,841
July64,987
August36,708
September24,505
October11,080
November3,155
December4,260

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Painted Bunting as present in 40 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 16 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Painted Bunting endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Painted Bunting live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 15 US states and territories, from Arizona and New Mexico east to Florida and North Carolina[3].
What does the Painted Bunting eat?
It eats mainly grass seeds, and also insects and spiders[13].
How big is a Painted Bunting?
A typical adult is about 14 cm (6 in) long and weighs about 16 g[15][16].
How long does a Painted Bunting live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 12 years[18]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 14 years 1 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Painted Bunting is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Painted Bunting: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Painted Bunting as native in 15 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Painted Bunting from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 14 years 1 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is a bird in the family Cardinalidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B (Secure (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Painted Bunting is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Painted Bunting (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Painted Bunting: Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Painted Bunting: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Old field, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Painted Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Painted Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 14 cm (6 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 16 g (0.6 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Painted Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 12 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 11 days. AnAge
  21. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  22. NatureServe migration category for Painted Bunting: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% seeds. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Painted Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Painted Bunting in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Painted Bunting as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.