Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris), Tres Rios Wetlands, Maricopa County

This Painted Bunting was found by Walker Noe and Caleb Strand and photographed by Walker Noe on 23 June 2015

The bird was singing from high, exposed perches in a mesquite.

Painted Bunting is a rare but regular visitant to southeast Arizona during late summer and early fall and is casual at other times and areas.  While the pattern of migrants in Arizona suggests that fall migrants are wild birds, Painted Buntings are common cage birds in Mexico and it is generally impossible to know if birds are escapes or not, especially adult males or when seen outside of the normal fall migration.

The male Painted Bunting is unmistakable, with a blue head, red breast, and green back.

23 June 2015, photo by Walker Noe