Painted bunting, Passerina ciris, also known as the nonpareil, photographed at Quintana, Texas, USA.
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 April 2011 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400
Question: This migratory neotropical mystery bird species is fairly common yet many people have never seen it. Can you name this species and tell me why such a colourful bird can remain relatively unseen? For extra smug points, can you tell me this bird's gender and age, and which field marks led you to your diagnosis?
Response: This is a first-year (last year's hatch) male painted bunting, Passerina ciris. This migratory songbird can be identified as a male painted bunting because its plumage resembles that of the adult female, except that this individual is growing blue feathers on the face and wings -- a characteristic of young males.
Though the painted bunting is colourful, it is difficult to see because it often remains under cover of brush and thickets.
You are invited to review all of the daily mystery birds by going to their dedicated graphic index page.
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