Blue Bunting

Cyanocompsa parellina

Least ConcernUncommonFruitWoodlandCup nestSmall · 16 g

About the Blue Bunting

The blue bunting is a species of passerine in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The nominate subspecies of blue bunting is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long. Males weigh 11 to 24 g (0.39 to 0.85 oz) and females 9.8 to 21 g (0.35 to 0.74 oz). The nominate male is various shades of blue, sky blue on the forehead and cheek, blackish blue on the upperparts, ultramarine on the rump, and the underparts from chin to belly deep blue. The adult and immature females are overall dull brownish, with a reddish tinge to the belly. The immature male is overall gray-blue with a brownish wash on the belly. Compared to the nominate, the C. p. Voice: The blue bunting's song is "a sweet, rather sad warble" . Its call is a metallic note .

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.

When to see it

Peak activity in March · a variable species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Blue Bunting for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.