Help Needed For Sightings of Color Banded Painted Buntings

By Paul W. Sykes Jr.

Biologists with the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center-Athens, located on the campus of the University of Georgia), are conducting studies of the Atlantic Coast population of the Painted Bunting to better understand movements, productivity, annual survival, and other aspects of the bird’s biology. Painted Buntings are being captured using mist nets and are being banded with colored leg bands from North Carolina to Florida. This project started in 1999 and will continue through 2003. Each marked bunting will have four bands, two on each leg. Three of the bands are colored and one is silver (a USGS numbered aluminum band). In most cases, binoculars or a spotting scope will be required to see the leg bands and correctly determine the band colors.

Each bunting has a unique combination of colored bands so that each individual bird can be identified. A given combination may have up to three of the same color or all may be a different color.

Another study in coastal Georgia uses only two bands, one on each leg. One band is silver and the other band has two colors (for example, white above red.) Please report buntings with only two bands also. If you see a Painted Bunting with colored leg bands, please write down the band colors, and record the following information:

Color and location of each band on the bird’s legs. Please make sure it is the bird’s left and right legs, as in viewing a bird one can mistakenly reverse the legs; also, the bottom band is the one nearest the birds toes. Record the left top, left bottom, right top, and right bottom bands
Note if the bird’s plumage is green, or if it is a brightly colored male.
Location and date observed.
Your name, complete address and telephone number.

Send this information to: Paul W. Sykes, Jr., USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Warnell School of Forest Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602-2152

Your observations will help greatly increase our knowledge and understanding of the eastern population of the Painted Bunting. All reports will be acknowledged. For additional information, see the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center’s home page at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/.