Buntings are mostly granivorous, feeding on a variety of seeds. They will come to bird feeders in search of smaller seeds, particularly white proso millet, Nyjer, and sunflower hearts or chips. Planting seed-bearing flowers can supply natural seeds for buntings to consume.

The male is easy to spot because it has a bright blue head and back (lighter than the closely related indigo bunting), white wingbars, a light red breast, and a white belly. The pattern of colors may remind you of the eastern and western bluebirds, but the bunting is smaller (13–15 cm or 5–5.9 inches long), has wingbars, and has a short, pointed bill. The female is brown, grayer on top, and warmer on the bottom. It can be distinguished from the female indigo bunting by its two thin, pale wingbars and other details of its feathers.

photo credit: Lenny Frieling

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