Foraging habitat is the same as either their breeding or wintering habitat. Painted buntings are trapped and sold in large numbers in Central America and exported from New Orleans , by ship, to Europe where they are sold for greatly inflated prices. Overall there has been a general decline in painted bunting numbers since the mid 1960's. Their desirability as caged birds and loss of habitat is the primary cause of their decline. Painted Buntings are still trapped and sold in Central America and transported over-seas by ship.
Habitat destruction constitutes the main reason for their decline.
Development of coastal swamp thickets and woodland edges has significantly reduced their eastern coastal habitats. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York. Lowther, Peter E., Scott M. Lanyon and Christopher W. Thompson. The Birds of North America. Lowther, Peter E., Scott M. Lanyon and Christopher W. Thompson.