Diet
What do painted buntings eat?
Seeds most of the year; insects when nesting.
Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
Spring and summer diet
- Grasshoppers, caterpillars and spiders
Fall and winter diet
- Grass seed; winters in Florida and Mexico
Best feeder foods
- White proso millet
A secretive bird of thickets; millet tube feeders placed near shrubs are the best way to see one.
Where painted buntings need winter food
Regions where painted buntings are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do painted buntings eat?
Seeds most of the year; insects when nesting.
What is the best food to feed painted buntings?
White proso millet.
What do painted buntings eat in winter?
Grass seed; winters in Florida and 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
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.