painted bunting

bird

Also known as: Passerina ciris

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The painted bunting (Passerina ciris) is a vividly colored seed-eating bird belonging to the family Cardinalidae. Males are exceptionally colorful, featuring an indigo head and neck, a scarlet breast, and a lemon-yellow back, earning them the nickname "nonpareil". This species is found in the American Southeast and is also known from Panama.12

Buntings, in general, are a diverse group of birds found in the families Emberizidae and Cardinalidae. Some species, like the Old World buntings, inhabit Europe, Asia, and Africa, while others, such as the snow bunting, are hardy songbirds of the Arctic. The painted bunting is distinguished by its striking plumage, with the drab brown female typically hiding among thickets.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

bunting
The painted bunting (P. ciris), native to the American Southeast, is sometimes called the “nonpareil” because of the male’s unrivaled colouring—indigo head and neck, scarlet breast, and lemon back.
Read More
The painted bunting (P. ciris), native to the American Southeast, is sometimes called the “nonpareil” because of the male’s unrivaled colouring—indigo head and neck, scarlet breast, and lemon back.
Read More