A colorful bird has made another appearance in a state capital, and birders flocked to see it last month.
What’s happening?
A male painted bunting has made what is believed to be its fourth trip to Raleigh, North Carolina’s second-most populous city, The News & Observer reported.
The blue-headed, red-chested avian, which also has yellow-green wings, typically sticks to the southern coast of the Tar Heel State but has appeared in the area every year since 2022. It’s not clear whether this same individual was the one initially spotted at Dix Park three years ago, but it’s a possibility.
The painted bunting is the most colorful breeding bird in the country, the newspaper reported. It’s in the cardinal family and roams the Atlantic Coast down to Central Florida. Another population lives in the south-central United States.
“While the painted bunting is not particularly rare, it’s notably difficult to spot because it typically hangs out in dense undergrowth,” according to The News & Observer. “And it’s not supposed to be in Raleigh.”
Why is this important?
The outlet noted that this apparent change in behavior could be the result of shifting migratory patterns due to rising global temperatures. Or it could be caused by habitat stressors such as human development or resource shortages…