facts about the indigo bunting
By zteve t evans
The Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is an attractive, small seed eating bird, around 4.5-5 inches in length, with a wingspan of 8-9 inches and weighing O.4-0.6 oz. They have small conical bills that differ slightly with gender of the bird. With the adult male the lower part is light blue and the upper part dark brown to black. The bill of the female is light bluish green. Their legs and feet are grey or black.
Plumage
In summer the plumage of the adult male is deep blue which can look black in poor light. They have black wings and tail with blue colouring around the edges.
In autumn and winter the male's plumage changes to a dun color, similar to the females, but often still retains some of their blue colouring. The adult female has a brown body with faint dark streaks on the underside and this coloration remains all year round with the female.
Migration
They are migratory birds and during the breeding season are found from the south of Canada to the north of Florida and during the winter are found from the south of Florida to the northern parts of South America.
They often migrate during the night using the stars to navigate by in April and May and also September and October. When these birds are kept in captivity and cannot migrate at this time of year they are known to become disorientated if they cannot see the stars.
Indigo buntings have been found as vagrants in many distant countries such as United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Antigua, Barbados, Ecuador, Netherlands, the Netherlands Saint, Antilles, and as far as Serbia.
Communication
The Indigo bunting uses visual cues and vocalizations to communicate. They make different sounds for alarms, or threats and to communicate together in flight. The male sings to attract females and to warn other males off his territory often sitting on high perches such as trees or posts.
In summer the plumage of the adult male is deep blue which can look black in poor light. They have black wings and tail with blue colouring around the edges.
In autumn and winter the male's plumage changes to a dun color, similar to the females, but often still retains some of their blue colouring. The adult female has a brown body with faint dark streaks on the underside and this coloration remains all year round with the female.
Migration
They are migratory birds and during the breeding season are found from the south of Canada to the north of Florida and during the winter are found from the south of Florida to the northern parts of South America.
They often migrate during the night using the stars to navigate by in April and May and also September and October. When these birds are kept in captivity and cannot migrate at this time of year they are known to become disorientated if they cannot see the stars.
Indigo buntings have been found as vagrants in many distant countries such as United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Antigua, Barbados, Ecuador, Netherlands, the Netherlands Saint, Antilles, and as far as Serbia.
Communication
The Indigo bunting uses visual cues and vocalizations to communicate. They make different sounds for alarms, or threats and to communicate together in flight. The male sings to attract females and to warn other males off his territory often sitting on high perches such as trees or posts.
Breeding
Although Indigo buntings are usually monogamous they have been known to interbreed with Lazuli buntings being close relatives.
They nest in low trees or dense bushes and shrubs, usually no higher than 3 feet above the ground. The nests are built by the female from grass, stems, leaves, and bark and often lined with animal hair and grass.
The female lays up to one to four eggs with the usual clutch being three or four. Eggs are usually white and sometimes have brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for twelve to thirteen days.
When the chicks do hatch they are helpless and completely dependent on their parents for food and security. Parents often raise two broods a year with the male feeding the older chicks while next clutch of eggs are incubated by the mother.
Sometimes the Brown-headed cowbird will find their nest and lay their own eggs there. If the Indigo bunting female has not produce a clutch of eggs in that nest then the nest will be abandoned. If she has laid eggs then the Cowbird's egg will be accepted though the Indigo bunting's own brood will have lower survival rates having to compete with the Cowbird's chick for food.
Although Indigo buntings are usually monogamous they have been known to interbreed with Lazuli buntings being close relatives.
They nest in low trees or dense bushes and shrubs, usually no higher than 3 feet above the ground. The nests are built by the female from grass, stems, leaves, and bark and often lined with animal hair and grass.
The female lays up to one to four eggs with the usual clutch being three or four. Eggs are usually white and sometimes have brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for twelve to thirteen days.
When the chicks do hatch they are helpless and completely dependent on their parents for food and security. Parents often raise two broods a year with the male feeding the older chicks while next clutch of eggs are incubated by the mother.
Sometimes the Brown-headed cowbird will find their nest and lay their own eggs there. If the Indigo bunting female has not produce a clutch of eggs in that nest then the nest will be abandoned. If she has laid eggs then the Cowbird's egg will be accepted though the Indigo bunting's own brood will have lower survival rates having to compete with the Cowbird's chick for food.
Diet
During the breeding season Indigo buntings are solitary feeders eating seeds, berries, insects, caterpillars, spiders, beetles and grasshoppers foraging in shrubs, bushes, trees and on the ground.
In winter grass seeds are the main part of their diet though they will eat insects and buds if they come across them. Indigo buntings often form flocks with others of its birds of its kind in the winter. They get most of their moisture from food so they do not drink frequently.
Conservation Status
Indigo buntings are classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as of 'Least Concern.'
© 20/10/2009 zteve t evans
During the breeding season Indigo buntings are solitary feeders eating seeds, berries, insects, caterpillars, spiders, beetles and grasshoppers foraging in shrubs, bushes, trees and on the ground.
In winter grass seeds are the main part of their diet though they will eat insects and buds if they come across them. Indigo buntings often form flocks with others of its birds of its kind in the winter. They get most of their moisture from food so they do not drink frequently.
Conservation Status
Indigo buntings are classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as of 'Least Concern.'
© 20/10/2009 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans October 20, 2009
Copyright zteve t evans October 20, 2009