The orange-breasted bunting is a small and colorful bird that belongs to the Cardinalidae family, along with other buntings, cardinals, and grosbeaks. It is endemic to Mexico, where it inhabits tropical or subtropical dry forests and shrubs. This is one of the most striking birds in North America, with bright yellow and orange plumage in males and yellow and green plumage in females.
The orange-breasted bunting has a black bill, a stout body and a long tail. It is approximately 12.5 cm (5 in) long and weighs approximately 13 g (0.46 oz)2. It has 16 recognized subspecies, varying in the amount of black and blue on the head and body1. The largest and darkest subspecies is found on the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia.
The orange-breasted bunting lives in heavily wooded areas, especially with oak, acacia and eucalyptus trees. It is uncommon and often inconspicuous as it feeds mainly in the middle and upper layers of the forest1. It feeds mainly on seeds, nuts, berries, insects, eggs and small animals. It sometimes visits bird feeders, where it can compete for food with other birds. It has a loud and harsh voice, able to imitate the sounds of other birds, animals, and humans. It has a distinctive giggle note and a robin-like song but clearer and less nasal.
The Orange-breasted Bunting breeds from March to June, depending on location. It builds cup-shaped nests of twigs, moss and mud, usually in coniferous trees. The female lays 3 to 6 green or bluish eggs with brown spots. The male helps incubate the eggs and feed the young. The chicks are born after about 16 days and stay with their parents for another month.
The orange-breasted sparrow is a resident, non-migratory bird. It is not threatened with extinction and has a large and stable population. However, it may face a number of threats from habitat loss, fragmentation and habitat degradation as well as from predators, parasites and disease. Therefore, it is important to protect and preserve the natural environment and appreciate its beauty and role in the ecosystem.
