The last, and probably best, bird I saw and photographed yesterday at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge was a molting immature Painted Bunting.
Roadside immature Painted Bunting – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/100, ISO 800, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light
I was driving towards the refuge entrance slowly and stopped by a tree that had fallen next to the road during one of our summer storms. Movement in the dead leaves caught my eye, then this little bunting appeared from the shadows and landed on a grass stem.
It seemed as if the young Painted Bunting was checking me out.
Immature Painted Bunting at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/100, ISO 800, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light
I was certainly checking the bunting out. I quickly noticed the yellow fleshy gape, the messy feathers, and the barely-there tail feathers.
What a cutie. What a bird.
Young Painted Bunting with barely a tail – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/100, ISO 800, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light
I don’t know if this is a young male or a young female Painted Bunting; there isn’t enough information in my images for me to make that determination.
What I do know is the weather is finally getting cooler, especially in the mornings, and that this immature bunting will soon need to leave on migration. Their feathers really need to be in good condition to make the long journey south.
I was tickled to have this immature Painted Bunting in my viewfinder yesterday, even with their feathers in molt. Life isn’t always sleek and beautiful; sometimes it is messy and authentic. Real.
Life is good, and as always, birds make it better and a whole lot more interesting.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Painted Bunting photos plus facts and information about this species.
I love Painted Buntings! So nice to see them for the first time in their immature stage. Thank you!—Jeri S.
Great pics. The detail alone is a show-stopper. Then there’s the subtle coloring and eye-contact; finally, the perfect [to my eye] composition. Simply wonderful. Thanks Mia.