Texas: Painted Bunting

The Painted Bunting in South Texas is a very exciting bird to see.  They’re somewhat common in parts of coastal and southern Texas during breeding season, but they’re not always easy to spot because they tend to stay tucked inside dense shrubs. You’ll usually hear them before you see them—short, musical phrases from deep cover—and then suddenly realize there’s a neon bird sitting quietly in the foliage. They don’t act flashy in behavior, just in color.  This was the best view I had of one when visiting South Texas.