The orange-breasted bunting is a species of passerine bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. With its wide range and large total population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature considers it as being of "least concern".
Region
Western Mexico (Pacific slope)
Typical Environment
Occurs along the Pacific lowlands and foothills from Sinaloa south through Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. It favors tropical dry deciduous forest, thorn scrub, second-growth thickets, and brushy hillsides. Often found at forest edges, along arroyos, in hedgerows, and around semi-open agricultural mosaics. Uses dense shrubs and small trees for cover and nesting.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This vividly colored bunting is endemic to Mexico’s Pacific slope, where males show a striking turquoise-blue head and back with a rich orange breast blending to yellow. Females are much duller and olive, which helps them stay concealed while nesting. It belongs to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae) and is often heard before seen in dry forest and scrub.
Male orange-breasted bunting in definitive alternate (breeding) plumage
Temperament
wary and somewhat secretive in dense cover
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with an undulating path
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Males sing from exposed perches but feed and move through dense shrubs. Breeding pairs are territorial; the nest is a small cup placed low to mid-level in shrubs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A bright, tinkling warble of clear, sweet notes delivered from prominent perches. Calls include thin metallic chips used for contact and alarm.
