38 birdsandblooms.com SEPTEMBER EXTRA 2020
Painted Bunting
Another exotic-looking bird that occasionally
visits feeders in the southern United States
is the painted bunting. Males wear a rainbow
of colors, while females are a vivid greenish
yellow. Despite their brightness, buntings can
be difficult to spot since they prefer dense
thickets. Providing good cover habitat is as
helpful as having bird feeders if you hope to
host painted buntings in your yard. PREVIOUS SPREAD AND RIGHT: STEVE AND DAVE MASLOWSKI; LEFT: MARIE READGreen Jay
Green jays bring tropical flair to the Lower
Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of Texas.
These vibrant fliers are enticed onto platform
feeders. A bit cartoonish with greens, yellows,
black and blues, the birds have black Groucho
Marx eyebrows that give them extra character.
If a trip to South Texas isn’t in your immediate
future, stream the feeder camera of the Sabal
Palm Sanctuary to try to spot a green jay.