Painted Buntings in New Mexico
When painted buntings are present in New Mexico, when they nest, which native New Mexico plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9a yard.
- Status in New Mexico
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9a
When to expect painted buntings in New Mexico
Painted Buntings are summer residents in New Mexico, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, caterpillars and spiders.
Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.
Nesting in New Mexico
Across New Mexico, painted buntings typically nest from May–August. Nest site: woven cup in dense shrubs or vines 3–6 ft up. Females lay 3–4 eggs, incubate for 11–12 days, and young leave the nest after 12–14 days.
Hot, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.
- Painted Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rabbitbrush, prickly pear for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native New Mexico plants that attract painted buntings
Of the regional native plants we track for New Mexico, these 8 provide food or cover painted buntings use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens.
Feeding painted buntings through the New Mexico year
A secretive bird of thickets; millet tube feeders placed near shrubs are the best way to see one.
- Best foods: White proso millet.
- In New Mexico's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for painted buntings · Best feeder for painted buntings
Frequently asked
Are painted buntings in New Mexico year-round?
No. Painted Buntings are summer breeders in New Mexico and leave for the winter.
When do painted buntings nest in New Mexico?
Nesting in New Mexico typically runs May–August, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 11–12 days.
What native plants attract painted buntings in New Mexico?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Prickly pear are native plants in New Mexico that provide food or cover for painted buntings.
Painted Buntings in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Mexico
Sources
- Painted Bunting — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Painted Bunting life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Painted Bunting — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Mexico
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.