How to Attract Buntings to Your Grassland

To attract buntings to your grassland, provide what they need most: a mix of native seed-bearing grasses, a reliable water source, and low, shrubby shelter for nesting and protection. Buntings—such as the indigo bunting, painted bunting, and dickcissel—are seed-eating songbirds that thrive in open, grassy areas with scattered shrubs. By managing your land or backyard to mimic their natural prairie habitat, you can welcome these colorful birds each spring and summer. The key is to create a safe, food-rich environment with the right plants and water, free from heavy pesticide use.

What Do Buntings Need in a Grassland?

Buntings need three essential elements in a grassland: abundant seeds from native grasses and forbs, fresh water for drinking and bathing, and dense, low shelter for nesting and escaping predators. Native plants such as little bluestem, switchgrass, and wild bergamot naturally produce the small seeds buntings favor. Without these food sources, buntings will pass over your grassland in search of better habitat. Water can be as simple as a shallow birdbath, and shelter may come from a hedgerow of native shrubs like wild plum or sumac. Together, these features make a grassland attractive not only to buntings but to many other grassland songbirds.

Plant Native Seed-Bearing Grasses and Forbs

The foundation of attracting buntings is planting native seed-bearing grasses and forbs. Native plants are those that grow naturally in your region and have evolved with local wildlife. For buntings, the small, nutritious seeds of grasses like sideoats grama, big bluestem, and Indian grass are ideal. Wildflowers such as coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and partridge pea also produce seeds that buntings eat, especially in late summer and fall. When planning your grassland, aim for a diverse mix of grasses and flowers that produce seeds at different times, so there is food available throughout the bunting’s stay. Avoid mowing from late spring through early fall—this allows plants to flower, set seed, and provide cover. If you have a large field, consider mowing only a third of it each year in late winter to keep the habitat healthy without destroying the seed crop.

Provide Water for Drinking and Bathing

A reliable water source is crucial for attracting buntings. In the wild, buntings drink from dew on grass, puddles, or small streams. In your grassland, a shallow birdbath or a small pond edge with gently sloping sides works well. Buntings prefer water that is no more than 1–2 inches deep, so place a few flat stones in the bath for perching. Keep the water clean and refill it daily, especially during hot, dry spells. Moving water—even a slow drip—can make the bath more noticeable and attractive. Place the water source near shrubs or tall grasses so birds can quickly retreat if they feel threatened. If you have the space, a small wildlife pond with a muddy edge also attracts insects, which buntings feed to their young.

Create Low, Shrubby Shelter

Buntings nest in low, dense vegetation, usually 1–4 feet above the ground. To provide shelter, plant a mix of native shrubs and small trees along the edges of your grassland. Good choices include wild plum, gray dogwood, American hazelnut, and prairie rose. These shrubs offer nesting sites and perches for singing males. Keep some areas of tall, unmowed grass—buntings often build their nests at the base of grass clumps. Avoid trimming hedgerows during the nesting season, which runs from May through August in most regions. A brush pile made from pruned branches can also serve as a quick shelter addition. By offering both grassy and shrubby cover, you give buntings the security they need to raise their young.

Manage Your Grassland for Year-Round Appeal

Attracting buntings is a year-round effort. Here are sequential steps to prepare and maintain your grassland:

1. Assess your current habitat: Note existing grasses, flowers, shrubs, and water sources. Identify any non-native invasive plants such as tall fescue or smooth brome, which can crowd out native seed sources.
2. Plan a native planting: In late fall or early spring, sow a mix of native grass and wildflower seeds suited to your region and soil type. Follow the seed supplier’s recommended rate, usually 10–20 pounds per acre for grasslands.
3. Control invasives: Remove or spot-treat invasive plants before they go to seed. Avoid broad herbicide use that kills beneficial forbs.
4. Add water and shelter features: Install a birdbath near cover. Plant shrub clusters along the field edge.
5. Adjust mowing: Mow only in late winter (February–March) and rotate sections to maintain some standing dead grass for early spring cover.
6. Observe and adjust: Keep field notes on when and where you see buntings. If they aren’t appearing, check for missing food, water, or shelter and make small changes.

By following these steps, you create a habitat that supports buntings throughout their breeding season and during migration.

What Kind of Bird Feeders Can Help?

While buntings are primarily ground feeders, a well-placed bird feeder can supplement their diet, especially during migration or in late winter. Buntings that visit feeders prefer small seeds like white proso millet, nyjer, and cracked sunflower hearts. Use a platform feeder or a hopper feeder with a wide tray, placed near shrubs or tall grass. Avoid mixed seed with large percentages of milo, wheat, or oats, which buntings often ignore. Keep the feeder clean and dry to prevent mold. Even with feeders, natural seed sources from native plants remain the most powerful attractant for buntings.

Table: Comparing Seed Choices for Attracting Buntings

Which Buntings Might You See?

In North American grasslands, the most common buntings are the indigo bunting, painted bunting, lazuli bunting, and dickcissel (a close relative). Indigo buntings are brilliant blue and sing a cheerful, paired-note song from exposed perches. Painted buntings are unmistakable with their red, blue, and green plumage—often called the most colorful bird in the U.S. Lazuli buntings are western counterparts with blue heads and orange breasts. Dickcissels, though not true buntings, share similar habitat and habits, with yellow breasts and a dry “dick-dick-cissel” call. Knowing which species are expected in your area helps you target your habitat plantings. For example, painted buntings prefer brushier edges with dense shrubs, while indigo buntings use more open woodland edges and grasslands.

Why Patient Observation Matters

Attracting buntings is not instant. It can take one to three years for newly planted natives to produce enough seed and cover. During that time, keep a field journal to record what you see: first arrival dates, singing perches, feeding behavior, and nesting evidence. Patient observation teaches you the rhythm of your land and the birds. Avoid the urge to over-manage; buntings prefer a slightly untidy grassland with some dead stems and leaf litter. Resist using pesticides, which kill the insects that young buntings need. By watching quietly and letting the habitat mature, you become a steward of a living landscape that supports buntings and countless other creatures.