We banded 9 Painted Buntings. We had time to get several great photos.
Painted Bunting - male
Photo by Bill LaFramboise
Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill LaFramboise
In addition to the 9 buntings we banded 2 Blue Jays and recaptured a Northern Cardinal from last year.
Among the 9 buntings was our surprise. I have never seen this coloring on a Painted Bunting before. It is NOT molting so it is not turning male. In fact the feathers tell us it is an adult and the wing length suggests that is male. So, an adult male with odd colors. Next one thinks of things that might change feather coloring including genetic "mistakes" that either change the colors themselves or the hormones that help determine color. What is hard to fathom is that the blue color on males' heads is not due to pigment. The blue color on birds is made by changing light. It is a complex mix of reflection, refraction, and feather structure. So did the feather structure get changed? It is certainly less red than a typically colored male.
Photos by Bill LaFramboise
This bird has sparked a lot of discussion. I will be trying to find out more about this coloration.
Wow. How odd.
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