Buntings

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Buntings vary in size from 12 to 20cm(4.75-8in), depending on the species. Most are not suitable for being caged indoors, as this type of lifestyle causes them to become overweight. The rainbow and lazuli buntings, however, are not hardy and must therefore be housed indoors as soon as the cold weather approaches, but they must have sufficient room to exercise. An outside aviary for buntings should be as large as possible and situated in a warm sunny area. Some species can be kept outside all year round, providing they have easy access to a frost-proof shelter.

The standard diet for buntings is based on a seed mixture consisting of canary seed, millet oats, hemp and grass seeds, with additions of grated carrot, chopped chickweed and insects. When the breeding season arrives, it is essential to provide a lavish supply of insects, as they rear their young exclusively on them.
Most buntings are shy and retiring, so they make good mixers, although their considerable size may scare smaller species. Do not house the nonpareil, or painted bunting, with close relatives, however, as aggressive behaviour and fighting are likely to occur.

Unfortunately, buntings are not bred in large numbers in captivity, as their breeding success is rather poor. When they do breed, they build cup-shaped nests in dense bushes or, alternatively, they will use half open nestboxes to lay their clutch of 4-6 eggs. The incubation period lasts approximately 12 days and fledging occurs 14 days later.

The attractive rainbow bunting can be kept in a cage or aviary. These birds have a pleasant nature and are fairly easy to keep. It is best to house them inside in winter, but they do not require much heat.

Buntings are found in both the New and the Old World. The American buntings belong to the same subfamily as the cardinals and are found from the United States to Panama. The Eurasian buntings belong to the genus Emberiza and range across the region into Japan as well as southwards into Africa.

The extremely pretty golden-breasted bunting has a pleasant song and does well in a mixed collection. Keep it in an aviary, as it tends to get too fat in a care.