North American field guide

Blue Bunting

Cyanocompsa parellina

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

14 cm (5-6") Rare. Strays (mostly in winter) to southern Texas from Mexico. Brushy fields, wood edges.

Male: dark blue overall with no wing bars. Told from similar male Indigo Bunting by its contrasting paler blue crown, cheeks, rump and shoulders. It also has a thicker, more strongly curved bill.

Female: rich brown overall. Told from similar female Indigo Bunting by its thicker, more strongly curved bill and lack of streaking below.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Peter Bono

Credit: Amy McAndrews

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Credit: Amy McAndrews

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Blue Bunting (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Blue · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:882-blue-bunting-male:1:1 Source: 882 Blue Bunting (Male), row 1

Blue Bunting (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Uniform · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:883-blue-bunting-female:1:1 Source: 883 Blue Bunting (Female), row 1