My wife and I have lived in our home for more than 30 years, and it wasn’t until this past Friday that we had a visit from a male Painted Bunting.
Of course, one may have (and likely did) visit before and we just didn’t know it. But on this day I just happened to be in our backyard around lunchtime when this Bunting came by — and fortunately I also had my camera in hand. I had been sitting outside trying to make some adjustments to my camera settings when I looked up and saw the pretty bunting just sitting there.
Pictures don’t do justice to just how beautiful this rainbow-colored bird is in person.
He only stayed a few minutes, but I sure hope he comes back.
Male Painted Bunting, my backyard, February 2026.
