{"id":42468,"date":"2026-06-12T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=42468"},"modified":"2026-06-15T11:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:10:40","slug":"how-and-where-to-find-the-painted-bunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/how-and-where-to-find-the-painted-bunting\/","title":{"rendered":"How and Where to Find the Painted Bunting \u2014 North Carolina\u2019s Most Colorful Songbird"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-summary\">\n\t\t<p class=\"eyebrow\">Key takeaways<\/p>\n    \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A painted bunting has become a recurring presence in Raleigh.<\/strong> While rare inland, a male painted bunting has returned each summer to Dorothea Dix Park since 2022, attracting birdwatchers and photographers from across North Carolina. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The species is easiest to spot during the breeding season.<\/strong> Painted buntings are most visible from late spring through summer, particularly in the early morning when males sing to establish territories and attract mates. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Birdwatchers can use multiple tools to locate sightings.<\/strong> Real-time reports on eBird, along with the birds\u2019 songs, binoculars and telephoto lenses, can help observers find painted buntings in areas with dense, low vegetation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-lead wp-block-paragraph\">From a perch high in a mulberry tree, a small bird with rainbow-colored plumage belts out a series of high-pitched songs. The bird, a male painted bunting, is doing what many male birds do during breeding season: defending territory and attracting a mate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unbeknownst to the bird, however, its appearance is a special occasion for the people watching from a distance through binoculars and camera lenses at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each summer, birdwatchers from across the Triangle region visit the park to catch a glimpse of the painted bunting, which is widely regarded as North America\u2019s most colorful songbird.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sightings in the region are rare, as the species typically breeds along North Carolina\u2019s coast in spring and summer. However, since 2022, a male painted bunting has been seen at Dorothea Dix Park each year, leading birdwatchers to suspect it may be the same returning individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;In my opinion, the painted bunting is one of the most attractive birds in the Western Hemisphere. It&#8217;s a real treat to see one,&#8221; said Christopher Moorman, a professor of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moorman, an expert in avian ecology and a birdwatcher, first observed and photographed the painted bunting at Dorothea Dix Park in 2022 and spotted it again in late April the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The species has fascinated Moorman since childhood when he first encountered a painted bunting along Florida\u2019s northeast coast. &#8220;I was hooked on birds right then and there,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the following FAQ, Moorman addresses common questions about the painted bunting, including where and when they can be found and how birdwatchers can increase their chances of spotting one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\">Where can painted buntings be found in North Carolina?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#best-time-see-painted-buntings\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#best-time-see-painted-buntings\">When is the best time of year to see painted buntings?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\">How long do painted buntings live in North Carolina?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#painted-bunting-habitat\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#painted-bunting-habitat\">What does painted bunting habitat look like?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#painted-buntings-colors\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#painted-buntings-colors\">Are male and female painted buntings different colors?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#threats-painted-buntings\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#threats-painted-buntings\">What threats do painted buntings face?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#birdwatchers-painted-bunting\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#birdwatchers-painted-bunting\">What can birdwatchers do to increase their chances of seeing a painted bunting?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\"><strong>Where can painted buntings be found in North Carolina?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The painted bunting is fairly common along the southeastern coast of North Carolina, where it has been documented at Brunswick Nature Park, Carolina Beach State Park, Caswell Beach, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Hammocks Beach State Park.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Raleigh, the painted bunting is regularly reported at Dorothea Dix Park, especially along the edge of the sunflower field and nearby brushy slopes during late spring and summer.<strong> <\/strong>\u201cIt&#8217;s a rare sighting this far inland,\u201d Moorman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best-time-see-painted-buntings\"><strong>When is the best time of year to see painted buntings?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best time to see painted buntings depends a lot on where you are, because their location changes with the seasons, according to Moorman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most of the southeastern United States, your best chance is during late spring through summer \u2014 roughly May through July. That\u2019s when males are most visible and vocal while establishing and defending territories.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\"><strong>How long do painted buntings live in North Carolina?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Painted buntings are \u201cneotropical migrants\u201d and typically arrive in North Carolina during spring migration in mid- to late April, with numbers increasing into May, according to Moorman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sightings can continue through August and September before most individuals depart the state for wintering grounds in southern Florida, Central America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"painted-bunting-habitat\"><strong>What does painted bunting habitat look like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Painted buntings breed in semi-open shrubland with dense, low vegetation. They forage in open grassy areas, often on or near the ground, and nest in thick shrubs and thickets, frequently in coastal or semi-open areas near water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along the coast, they favor dense edges where maritime forests or shrubland meet salt marshes, tidal rivers and estuaries. Inland, they generally avoid heavily landscaped urban areas but may occur in overgrown park edges with thick low vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That preference helps explain why Dorothea Dix Park has become a consistent site for sightings during the breeding season, according to Moorman. \u201cThe dense, low woody vegetation at Dorothea Dix and possibly the close proximity of Rocky Branch Creek is likely why the individual continues to return to the location,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"painted-buntings-colors\"><strong>Are male and female painted buntings different colors?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Male painted buntings have a bright blue head, green back and red underside. Female painted buntings are mostly green with a yellow-green underside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Young male painted buntings look like females until they are about two years old, when they usually shed and replace their feathers for the first time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"threats-painted-buntings\"><strong>What threats do painted buntings face?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eastern population of painted buntings faces several major threats across its range, according to Moorman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Habitat loss is a primary concern, especially the clearing and development of breeding habitat \u2014 maritime forests, shrublands and dense coastal thickets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Illegal trapping for the pet trade has also affected populations, with \u201ccollectors illegally trapping and selling the birds because of the beautiful plumage of the adult males,\u201d Moorman said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In North Carolina, painted buntings are listed as a species of concern and are recognized as a priority species in the North Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"birdwatchers-painted-bunting\"><strong>What can birdwatchers do to increase their chances of seeing a painted bunting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Birdwatchers should get outdoors early if they want to increase their chances of spotting a painted bunting. \u201cThe best time of day to see most birds, including the painted bunting, is during the first few hours after sunrise,\u201d Moorman said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s when daytime birds are most active, especially during the hotter days of summer. As the temperature rises, bird activity declines and individuals often roost in dense and shady vegetation,\u201d Moorman added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moorman recommended a few tools that can help birdwatchers in their search for the painted bunting. That includes the <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/explore\">eBird website<\/a>, where \u201cSpecies Maps\u201d show <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/map\/paibun?neg=true&amp;env.minX=-152.7698554153124&amp;env.minY=-5.046347567815458&amp;env.maxX=27.230144584687594&amp;env.maxY=66.03620908606&amp;zh=true&amp;gp=false&amp;ev=Z&amp;excludeExX=false&amp;excludeExAll=false&amp;mr=1-12&amp;bmo=1&amp;emo=12&amp;yr=cur\">recent sightings<\/a>, often marked as red locations when zoomed in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also recommended 8\u00d742 binoculars for observing smaller birds, such as painted buntings, and noted that many birdwatchers use telephoto cameras to document sightings and assist with species identification. The <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/about\/ebird-mobile\">eBird Mobile<\/a> app can be used to log bird sightings in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Birdwatchers can also use mobile apps to identify birds by sound. The free <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.labs.merlinbirdid.app&amp;hl=en_US\">Merlin Bird ID<\/a> app, for example, can listen to surrounding sounds and provide real-time, on-screen identification of singing birds, including male painted buntings. <\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-post-header\",\"isSummaryActive\":true} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-post-header {\"caption\":\"To protect their territories and attract females, male painted buntings usually sing from a raised perch out in the open on the tops of bushes and low tree branches. Photo by Christopher Moorman\",\"displayCategoryID\":460,\"subtitle\":\"Professor Christopher Moorman addresses common questions about the painted bunting and provides tips for birdwatchers.\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/summary {\"eyebrowLabel\":\"Key takeaways\"} -->\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>A painted bunting has become a recurring presence in Raleigh.<\/strong> While rare inland, a male painted bunting has returned each summer to Dorothea Dix Park since 2022, attracting birdwatchers and photographers from across North Carolina. <\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>The species is easiest to spot during the breeding season.<\/strong> Painted buntings are most visible from late spring through summer, particularly in the early morning when males sing to establish territories and attract mates. <\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Birdwatchers can use multiple tools to locate sightings.<\/strong> Real-time reports on eBird, along with the birds\u2019 songs, binoculars and telephoto lenses, can help observers find painted buntings in areas with dense, low vegetation.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/summary -->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"className\":\"is-style-lead\"} -->\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">From a perch high in a mulberry tree, a small bird with rainbow-colored plumage belts out a series of high-pitched songs. The bird, a male painted bunting, is doing what many male birds do during breeding season: defending territory and attracting a mate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Unbeknownst to the bird, however, its appearance is a special occasion for the people watching from a distance through binoculars and camera lenses at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Each summer, birdwatchers from across the Triangle region visit the park to catch a glimpse of the painted bunting, which is widely regarded as North America\u2019s most colorful songbird.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sightings in the region are rare, as the species typically breeds along North Carolina\u2019s coast in spring and summer. However, since 2022, a male painted bunting has been seen at Dorothea Dix Park each year, leading birdwatchers to suspect it may be the same returning individual.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\"In my opinion, the painted bunting is one of the most attractive birds in the Western Hemisphere. It's a real treat to see one,\" said Christopher Moorman, a professor of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Moorman, an expert in avian ecology and a birdwatcher, first observed and photographed the painted bunting at Dorothea Dix Park in 2022 and spotted it again in late April the following year.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The species has fascinated Moorman since childhood when he first encountered a painted bunting along Florida\u2019s northeast coast. \"I was hooked on birds right then and there,\" he said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the following FAQ, Moorman addresses common questions about the painted bunting, including where and when they can be found and how birdwatchers can increase their chances of spotting one.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\">Where can painted buntings be found in North Carolina?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#best-time-see-painted-buntings\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#best-time-see-painted-buntings\">When is the best time of year to see painted buntings?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\">How long do painted buntings live in North Carolina?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#painted-bunting-habitat\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#painted-bunting-habitat\">What does painted bunting habitat look like?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#painted-buntings-colors\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#painted-buntings-colors\">Are male and female painted buntings different colors?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#threats-painted-buntings\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#threats-painted-buntings\">What threats do painted buntings face?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#birdwatchers-painted-bunting\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#birdwatchers-painted-bunting\">What can birdwatchers do to increase their chances of seeing a painted bunting?<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"where-painted-buntings-north-carolina\"><strong>Where can painted buntings be found in North Carolina?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The painted bunting is fairly common along the southeastern coast of North Carolina, where it has been documented at Brunswick Nature Park, Carolina Beach State Park, Caswell Beach, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Hammocks Beach State Park.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In Raleigh, the painted bunting is regularly reported at Dorothea Dix Park, especially along the edge of the sunflower field and nearby brushy slopes during late spring and summer.<strong> <\/strong>\u201cIt's a rare sighting this far inland,\u201d Moorman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"best-time-see-painted-buntings\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"best-time-see-painted-buntings\"><strong>When is the best time of year to see painted buntings?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The best time to see painted buntings depends a lot on where you are, because their location changes with the seasons, according to Moorman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In most of the southeastern United States, your best chance is during late spring through summer \u2014 roughly May through July. That\u2019s when males are most visible and vocal while establishing and defending territories.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"painted-buntings-live-north-carolina\"><strong>How long do painted buntings live in North Carolina?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Painted buntings are \u201cneotropical migrants\u201d and typically arrive in North Carolina during spring migration in mid- to late April, with numbers increasing into May, according to Moorman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sightings can continue through August and September before most individuals depart the state for wintering grounds in southern Florida, Central America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"painted-bunting-habitat\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"painted-bunting-habitat\"><strong>What does painted bunting habitat look like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Painted buntings breed in semi-open shrubland with dense, low vegetation. They forage in open grassy areas, often on or near the ground, and nest in thick shrubs and thickets, frequently in coastal or semi-open areas near water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Along the coast, they favor dense edges where maritime forests or shrubland meet salt marshes, tidal rivers and estuaries. Inland, they generally avoid heavily landscaped urban areas but may occur in overgrown park edges with thick low vegetation.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That preference helps explain why Dorothea Dix Park has become a consistent site for sightings during the breeding season, according to Moorman. \u201cThe dense, low woody vegetation at Dorothea Dix and possibly the close proximity of Rocky Branch Creek is likely why the individual continues to return to the location,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"painted-buntings-colors\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"painted-buntings-colors\"><strong>Are male and female painted buntings different colors?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Male painted buntings have a bright blue head, green back and red underside. Female painted buntings are mostly green with a yellow-green underside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Young male painted buntings look like females until they are about two years old, when they usually shed and replace their feathers for the first time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"threats-painted-buntings\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"threats-painted-buntings\"><strong>What threats do painted buntings face?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The eastern population of painted buntings faces several major threats across its range, according to Moorman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Habitat loss is a primary concern, especially the clearing and development of breeding habitat \u2014 maritime forests, shrublands and dense coastal thickets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Illegal trapping for the pet trade has also affected populations, with \u201ccollectors illegally trapping and selling the birds because of the beautiful plumage of the adult males,\u201d Moorman said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In North Carolina, painted buntings are listed as a species of concern and are recognized as a priority species in the North Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6],\"anchor\":\"birdwatchers-painted-bunting\"} -->\n<h2 id=\"birdwatchers-painted-bunting\"><strong>What can birdwatchers do to increase their chances of seeing a painted bunting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Birdwatchers should get outdoors early if they want to increase their chances of spotting a painted bunting. \u201cThe best time of day to see most birds, including the painted bunting, is during the first few hours after sunrise,\u201d Moorman said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThat's when daytime birds are most active, especially during the hotter days of summer. As the temperature rises, bird activity declines and individuals often roost in dense and shady vegetation,\u201d Moorman added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Moorman recommended a few tools that can help birdwatchers in their search for the painted bunting. That includes the <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/explore\">eBird website<\/a>, where \u201cSpecies Maps\u201d show <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/map\/paibun?neg=true&amp;env.minX=-152.7698554153124&amp;env.minY=-5.046347567815458&amp;env.maxX=27.230144584687594&amp;env.maxY=66.03620908606&amp;zh=true&amp;gp=false&amp;ev=Z&amp;excludeExX=false&amp;excludeExAll=false&amp;mr=1-12&amp;bmo=1&amp;emo=12&amp;yr=cur\">recent sightings<\/a>, often marked as red locations when zoomed in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He also recommended 8\u00d742 binoculars for observing smaller birds, such as painted buntings, and noted that many birdwatchers use telephoto cameras to document sightings and assist with species identification. The <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/about\/ebird-mobile\">eBird Mobile<\/a> app can be used to log bird sightings in the field.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Birdwatchers can also use mobile apps to identify birds by sound. The free <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.labs.merlinbirdid.app&amp;hl=en_US\">Merlin Bird ID<\/a> app, for example, can listen to surrounding sounds and provide real-time, on-screen identification of singing birds, including male painted buntings. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NC State professor Christopher Moorman addresses common questions about the painted bunting, including where and when they can be found and how birdwatchers can increase their chances of spotting one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":42478,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"caption\":\"To protect their territories and attract females, male painted buntings usually sing from a raised perch out in the open on the tops of bushes and low tree branches. Photo by Christopher Moorman\",\"displayCategoryID\":460,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Professor Christopher Moorman addresses common questions about the painted bunting and provides tips for birdwatchers.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111,1,102,3,460],"tags":[261,362,247],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-42468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fer-research","category-hidden-news","category-hidden-newswire","category-research-innovation","category-thought-leadership","tag-fer-research","tag-forestry-and-environmental-resources","tag-wildlife-management-and-conservation-biology"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":460,"name":"Thought Leadership","slug":"thought-leadership","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":460,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Our more than 200 faculty members are experts in their fields, conducting cutting-edge research to solve urgent challenges at the intersection of the environment, economy and society. Here you will find content highlighting their expertise on a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary issues ranging from the significant rise in forest fires, deforestation and flooding to the need for accelerated innovation to sustainably engineer bio-based materials.","parent":0,"count":89,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42468"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42511,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42468\/revisions\/42511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42468"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=42468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}