Question: Recently I was walking on Boardwalk 5 and saw this male Painted Bunting fluttering on the boardwalk. A female then flew in. Is this some courting behavior or is the bird injured or sick? – Anonymous
Answer: I recently saw a similar behavior on Boardwalk 5 with a male Painted Bunting that was also splashing in a puddle on the boardwalk. Nancy Brown researched in Birds of the World published by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Your guess of a courting behavior seems correct. Here are some excerpts copied without editing:
Male gives Courtship Display on ground (mostly), where he “flattens himself out, spreads his wings and tail, and fluffs his plumage much like a miniature turkey gobbler. The display actions are rather jerky and stiff, with alternating periods of activity and stillness” (Sprunt 1968b (https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paibun/cur/references#REF34583):
140). Male hops about close to female with body low on flexed legs, neck stretched, and head up and back, fluttering wings (Parmelee 1959 (https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paibun/cur/references#REF34582)).
The same display, or major components of it, has been observed in flight (G. M. Sutton in Parmelee 1959 (https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paibun/cur/references#REF34582));
male gave flight display over distance of 25 m flying in front of female with spread tail and head up, and “manipulated his wings in such a manner that they appeared to be fluttering in flight” (Parmelee 1959 (https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paibun/cur/references#REF34582)).
Female may appear to ignore the displaying male and peck at the ground; or respond with a Solicitation Display (see below); courtship is not always followed by copulation; copulations observed only before or during egg laying (Parmelee 1959 (https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paibun/cur/references#REF34582), Lanyon and Thompson 1984 (https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paibun/cur/references#REF21670))
So the next time you see a male Painted Bunting fluttering on the ground, it may be interesting to watch for a nearby female’s reaction.
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