Texas · Summer breeder

Varied Buntings in Texas

When varied buntings are present in Texas, when they nest, which native Texas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6b–10a yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Varied BuntingPasserina versicolor

Status in Texas: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–August
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 6b–10a
Range note: Lower Rio Grande and Big Bend country.

When to expect varied buntings in Texas

Varied Buntings are summer residents in Texas, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Lower Rio Grande and Big Bend country.

Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.

Nesting in Texas

Across Texas, varied buntings typically nest from April–August. Plan around that window: March for setup, August for clean-out.

Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.

Varied Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red maple for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Native Texas plants that attract varied buntings

Of the regional native plants we track for Texas, these 8 provide food or cover varied buntings use:

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Leave seed heads standing through fall and winter.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Rocky Mountain bee plant

Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Feeding varied buntings through the Texas year

Top foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower.
In Texas's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for varied buntings · Best feeder for varied buntings

Frequently asked

Are varied buntings in Texas year-round?

No. Varied Buntings are summer breeders in Texas and leave for the winter. Lower Rio Grande and Big Bend country.

When do varied buntings nest in Texas?

Nesting in Texas typically runs April–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.

What native plants attract varied buntings in Texas?

Purple coneflower, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Red maple, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Texas that provide food or cover for varied buntings.

Varied Buntings in other regions

Arizona New Mexico

Other backyard birds in Texas

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird House Sparrow European Starling Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Black-crested Titmouse Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Gambel's Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Acorn Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Cactus Wren Curve-billed Thrasher Verdin Pyrrhuloxia Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove Inca Dove American Crow Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Hooded Oriole Phainopepla Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Green Jay Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Warbling Vireo White-eyed Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Western Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Vermilion Flycatcher Great Kiskadee Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Red-cockaded Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Dickcissel Blue Grosbeak Brown-headed Nuthatch Cactus Wren Greater Roadrunner Yellow-billed Cuckoo Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Rock Pigeon Monk Parakeet

Sources

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.