Varied Bunting
Passerina versicolor
The male's striking colors are structural; in shade, he appears dark and drab, but direct sunlight reveals a brilliant cocktail of red, plum, and blue.
- Scientific name
- Passerina versicolor
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Cardinalidae › Passerina
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Desert scrub, arid thorn-forests, canyon bottoms, and riparian thickets.
- Diet
- Insects, seeds, and small desert fruits (such as cactus fruit).
- Range
- Southwestern United States, Mexico, Guatemala
- Size
- Length: 11-14 cm, Wingspan: 21 cm, Weight: 11-13 g
- Lifespan
- 4-6 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat destruction, brush clearing, and nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds.
- Safe to approach?
- This species is entirely harmless and easily startled. Observe from a respectful distance of 15-20 feet using binoculars to prevent nest abandonment. If you find an injured individual, contact a local licensed avian rehabilitator immediately.
The varied bunting ( Passerina versicolor ) is a species of songbird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae.
Photo: Cole Wolf, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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