Arkansas motorists can add color to their commute while supporting wildlife conservation with the new 2026 Conservation License Plate from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
The latest plate features a vibrant image of a painted bunting, one of the most striking songbirds found in The Natural State. Known for its bright blues, greens, and reds, the painted bunting spends much of its breeding and nesting season in Arkansas before migrating south for the winter. The artwork highlights the bird set against a summer tallgrass prairie, celebrating Arkansas’s rich natural diversity.
This marks the 10th conservation plate design created by AGFC Art Director Greta James, whose work has become a signature of the program. Unlike many migratory species that pass through Arkansas briefly, painted buntings are longtime summer residents, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.
Beyond its visual appeal, the plate directly supports conservation. Each purchase raises $25, with a total cost of $35 above the standard registration fee. Since its launch in 2000, the Conservation License Plate Program has generated more than $21 million for conservation scholarships and internships, nature center exhibits, and land acquisitions that expand hunting and fishing access statewide.
The plates are available online through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration at dfa.arkansas.gov and at revenue offices across Arkansas.
The painted bunting becomes the ninth bird species featured on an AGFC conservation license plate, following designs highlighting species such as the bald eagle, northern cardinal, and barred owl—continuing a tradition that blends art, wildlife, and conservation support statewide.
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