Passerina

The genus Passerina is a group of birds in the Cardinal family Cardinalidae. Although not directly related to buntings in the family Emberizidae, they are sometimes known as the North American buntings (the North American Emberizidae are colloquially called "sparrows" although they are also not related to these birds).

The males show gaudy colours in the breeding season, except the Painted Bunting, in which the plumage is year-round; the plumage of females and immature birds is brown or green. These birds go through two molts in a year; the males are generally less colourful in winter, such as in the Indigo Bunting. They have moderately long legs. They have short, conical birds ; they mainly eat seeds and insects.

Blue Grosbeak (P. caerulea) was once placed in the monotypic genus, Guiraca.

Species

 * Blue Grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
 * Lazuli Bunting, Passerina. amoena
 * Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
 * Varied Bunting, Passerina versicolor
 * Painted Bunting, Passerina ciris
 * Rose-bellied Bunting, Passerina rositae
 * Orange-breasted Bunting, Passerina leclancherii