Rare, Colorful Sighting Thrills New England Bird Watchers
PITTSFIELD, Vt. (CBS) – A rare and colorful sighting in Vermont has set New England bird watchers' hearts aflutter.
According to Kent McFarland, co-founder of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, a male Painted Bunting has been visiting feeders in Pittsfield.
State records show there have been only six recorded sightings of the bird, which has a rainbow-colored appearance.
The blue, green, red and yellow bird was first spotted in Pittsfield on March 16, and its sighting has bird watchers flocking to the area.
Cold & lonely VT male Painted Bunting seeks saucy southern chick @ feeder for 2 Profile: https://t.co/VXBTZP4uUI pic.twitter.com/YtTcqIilH4
— Vermont State Parks (@VTStateParks) March 18, 2016
Saw the Painted Bunting in Pittsfield, VT today. pic.twitter.com/Pkecbb3siH
— Ron Payne ????+????=???? (@RonPayne72) March 20, 2016
Painted Buntings are more common in the south and have been illegally caught and sold as cage birds, according to the center.