Rose-bellied Bunting

The Rose-bellied Bunting, also known as Rosita's Bunting, is a small, vibrant bird with a length ranging from 13.5 to 14.5 cm and a weight between 19.5 to 20.5 grams. The male is adorned with a purplish-blue crown and electric blue upperparts that transition to a lighter shade towards the tail. Its chin is a subtle gray, while the throat and chest boast a brilliant blue, and the belly and vent area are a striking salmon pink. The female, in contrast, has a more subdued palette with gray-brown upperparts and a bluish tinge at the rump, complemented by pinkish buff undersides that grow paler towards the lower belly.

Identification Tips

To identify the Rose-bellied Bunting, look for the male's distinctive blue and pink coloration and the female's more muted tones. The bird's size and the color gradient from the darker upperparts to the lighter tail are also key characteristics.

Habitat

This species thrives in a variety of environments, including arid to semiarid thorn forests, moister gallery forests, and swamp forests, where it can be found from 180 to 800 meters above sea level.

Distribution

Endemic to southern Mexico, the Rose-bellied Bunting's core range is a narrow strip along the Pacific slope of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, spanning eastern Oaxaca to western Chiapas, with an additional sighting in the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve.

Behaviour

The Rose-bellied Bunting typically forages alone or in pairs, staying within the lower to mid-levels of its habitat.

Song & calls

The song of this species is a delightful, slightly burry warble, while its call is a distinctive wet 'plik' or 'plek'.

Breeding

Breeding behavior includes the construction of open cup nests made of dead leaves and bark, lined with finer materials, and placed in the crotches of small saplings. Clutches typically contain three to four eggs, with observations made in late June and late July.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Rose-bellied Bunting consists of seeding grasses and fruits from trees and bushes, which they forage for within their habitat.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Rose-bellied Bunting as Near Threatened due to its limited range, which is potentially shrinking as a result of habitat degradation and infrastructure development.