- I wear a rainbow for a coat.
- Seeds and bugs go down my throat.
- I whistle songs, note for note.
- Glades and thickets win my vote.
Painted Bunting
Male painted buntings are so colorful, you might mistake them for tiny parrots. But they’re more closely related to cardinals, tanagers, and indigo buntings. Females wear fewer colors but are equally vibrant with lime-green feathers on their backs and bellies. While raising babies, painted buntings eat lots of insects. During the rest of the year, they eat seeds. Look for these brilliant birds in southern Missouri near glades and along the edges of woods.
Also In This Issue
Nature abounds nearly everywhere — if you know how to look for it.
The Show-Me State doesn’t have sandy, cactus-filled deserts, but it does have rocky, sun-scorched sites where plants and animals must be tough to survive. These hot spots are called glades. And while glades indeed get toasty, the plants and animals that live there are super cool.
And More...
This Issue's Staff
Photographer – Noppadol Paothong
Photographer – David Stonner
Designer – Marci Porter
Art Director – Ben Nickelson
Editor – Matt Seek
Subscriptions – Marcia Hale
Magazine Manager – Stephanie Thurber