Bird field guide · Cardinals and Allies

Photographing the Painted Bunting

How to photograph the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April and May).

14–22 cm1/2500–1/3200 s
14–22 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/3200 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/7.1
Aperture
35,927
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/3200 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/7.1
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionBird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens400–600 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 18 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally. Small birds demand long lenses and a close approach — a blind or feeder setup helps.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)310 mm455 mm206 mm155 mm
10 m (33 ft)619 mm909 mm413 mm310 mm
15 m (49 ft)929 mm1,364 mm619 mm464 mm
20 m (66 ft)1,238 mm1,818 mm826 mm619 mm
30 m (98 ft)1,857 mm2,727 mm1,238 mm929 mm
50 m (164 ft)3,096 mm4,545 mm2,064 mm1,548 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 5% Jan Feb: 5% Feb Mar: 5% Mar Apr: 20% Apr May: 22% May Jun: 12% Jun Jul: 12% Jul Aug: 7% Aug Sep: 3% Sep Oct: 3% Oct Nov: 3% Nov Dec: 3% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April and May.

About the Painted Bunting#

The painted bunting (Passerina ciris) is a species of bird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae, that is native to North America. The bright plumage of the male only comes in the second year of life; in the first year they can only be distinguished from the female by close inspection.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Red plumage clips easily — check the red channel histogram.
  • Bird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
  • Sightings peak in April and May, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Cardinals and Allies#

Northern Cardinal Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis Indigo Bunting Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus Summer Tanager Summer TanagerPiranga rubra Western Tanager Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana Black-headed Grosbeak Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus Blue Grosbeak Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea Scarlet Tanager Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Painted Bunting?

At about 18 cm long, a painted bunting fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 619 mm, or at 20 m with 1,238 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Painted Bunting?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/3200 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Painted Bunting?

Observations in North America peak in April and May. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources