Diet
What do varied buntings eat?
Seeds and insects of desert thorn scrub.
Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Varied BuntingPasserina versicolor
Spring and summer diet
- Grass seeds, caterpillars and beetles
Fall and winter diet
- Migrates to Mexico
Best feeder foods
- Millet
- Hulled sunflower
A Mexican border specialty of thorny canyon scrub; a birdbath is the best way to see one.
Frequently asked
What do varied buntings eat?
Seeds and insects of desert thorn scrub.
What is the best food to feed varied buntings?
Millet, Hulled sunflower.
What do varied buntings eat in winter?
Migrates to Mexico.
Sources
- Varied Bunting — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Varied Bunting life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Varied 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.