Blue Bunting

Overview

The blue bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina) is a small passerine bird in the family Cardinalidae, found across Central America and parts of Mexico. It is the only species within its genus and is currently assessed as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Males are various shades of blue, ranging from sky blue on the forehead and cheeks to blackish blue on the upperparts and deep blue on the underparts, while females are overall dull brownish with a reddish tinge to the belly.
• The nominate subspecies measures between 13 and 14 cm in length, with males weighing 11 to 24 g and females 9.8 to 21 g.
• The song is described as a sweet, rather sad warble, accompanied by a metallic call.

Habitat

This species inhabits dense vegetation, including scrubby areas, thickets, and the undergrowth or edges of tall forests. Its range extends from eastern Mexico south through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and into northwestern Nicaragua, with elevations reaching up to 1,800 m in Mexico.

Diet

The blue bunting forages singly or in pairs through low vegetation. Its specific diet has not been described.

Did you know?

The bird was originally described in 1850 as Passerina parellina by French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte, before receiving its current binomial name in 1861. It is fairly common and appears capable of accepting moderate modification of its habitat.