VARIED BUNTING 135 



acquired by complete postnuptial molt, is similar to the adult male in 

 winter, except that the wing bars are more buffy or brownish and the 

 posterior lower parts are duller and more grayish. The second winter 

 plumage of the female is like that of the adult female. The second 

 nuptial plumage of the male, acquired by wear, is much like the nuptial 

 plumage of the adult male except that the under parts are duller and 

 more grayish or buffy brown. The third winter plumage of the male, 

 the adult plumage, acquired by a complete postnuptial molt, is like 

 that of the adult, however the feather tips and edgings tend to obscure 

 the bright colors. These gradually become more apparent as the 

 gray-brown edges wear away until they have practically disappeared 

 by the beginning of the spring breeding season. 



Food. — Very little information is available concerning the food of 

 this bunting; presumably, it is similar to that of the indigo and lazuli 

 buntings. Pulich (1963) states, "an adult male and juvenile were 

 observed feeding upon weed-seeds * * *." 



Voice. — James C. Merrill (1879) wrote concerning this species, 

 "Its song has some resemblance to that of the Indigo-bird, and is 

 constantly uttered." George N. Lawrence (1874) wrote, "This 

 beautiful little finch is quite a common species about the vicinity of 

 Mazatlan, where it is a constant resident * * *. It has a sweet little 

 song, which it often warbles in the morning and evening from the top 

 of some bush or weed in hearing of its modestly attired mate.'' 

 Herbert Brandt (1940) states of the male: "this gorgeously bedecked 

 creature, in order to spread over the countryside its crisp, warbling 

 whistle, invariably chooses a high, prominent perch, and although 

 very busily engaged in song, it is ever alert, and too wary to allow a 

 person's very close approach." AUan R. Phillips writes Taber: 

 "the usual call is very sharp and strongly reminiscent of Oporornis 

 tolmeiei * * *." Roger Tory Peterson (1960) describes the song as 

 "a thin bright finch song, more distinctly phrased and less warbled 

 than the painted bunting's notes; notes not so distinctly paired as in 

 song of lazuli bunting." 



Field marks. — The adult male varied bunting cannot be confused 

 with any other bu'd; he has a dark purplish-plum body that looks 

 almost black at a distance, and a bright red nape, with blue crown and 

 lighter blue rump. The most distinctive character is the red nape 

 and dark body. Females and young males are plain grayish brown, 

 and very similar to those of the indigo and lazuli buntings. 



Behavior. — Little is known concerning the behavior of the varied 

 bunting; usually it is a retiring species, somewhat shy and secretive, 

 and stays away from human habitations, remaining closely to the 

 cover of its haunts in the semidesert brush. Consequently, the female 

 is seldom observed. However, during the nesting season, the male 



