Arkansas Game and Fish releases painted bunting license plate

Arkansas drivers can add a burst of color to their daily commute while supporting conservation efforts with the release of a new license plate featuring the painted bunting, one of the state’s most vibrant native birds.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s latest Conservation License Plate showcases the brightly colored songbird set against a summer tallgrass prairie. The painted bunting is a familiar sight for wildlife watchers across the South and spends much of its breeding and nesting season in Arkansas before migrating to the Gulf Coast and Caribbean for the winter.

The artwork marks the 10th conservation plate designed by Greta James, the commission’s award-winning art director. This year’s design highlights the bunting’s vivid blues, greens, and reds, capturing the bird’s striking appearance during the spring and summer months.

Proceeds from the plate support wildlife conservation across the state. Each plate raises $25 for conservation programs, with a total cost of $35 above the standard vehicle registration fee. Since the program began in 2000, it has generated more than $21 million for conservation scholarships and internships for Arkansas students, educational exhibits at nature centers, and land acquisitions to improve hunting and fishing access.

The painted bunting is the ninth bird species to appear on an Arkansas conservation license plate. Earlier designs featured species including the ruby-throated hummingbird, eastern wild turkey, mallard, ivory-billed woodpecker, bald eagle, northern cardinal, northern pintail and barred owl.

The new plates are available online through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration website and at revenue offices statewide.

Image via Arkansas Game and Fish Commission