facts about the lazuli Bunting
By zteve t evans
The male Lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena), is a striking bird with blue head and back with a red breast and light grey underside. Their wings are black with white bars. Immature males in their first year of age have a similar colouring to mature males but with a brownish wash.
The female has a brown, dun coloured back turning to a warmer greyer colouring underneath. They look very similar to female Indigo buntings but have two pale wing bars on both wings.
The female has a brown, dun coloured back turning to a warmer greyer colouring underneath. They look very similar to female Indigo buntings but have two pale wing bars on both wings.
Habitat and Diet
Lazuli buntings inhabit areas of shrubs and thickets in forested regions, farm hedgerows and residential gardens. They eat mostly seeds, berries, worms and insects foraging on the ground or in the branches of bushes, shrubs and trees. Males often catch flies from open perches while the female prefers doing this from lower, sheltered stations.
Singing
Male Lazuli buntings are tireless singers using prominent perches to broadcast their song across their territory. As a yearling each male develops an individual song which they sing for life. They learn how to sing by listening to males in their neighbourhood singing which may sound similar but is a different 'accent' to those of different neighbourhoods.
Lazuli buntings inhabit areas of shrubs and thickets in forested regions, farm hedgerows and residential gardens. They eat mostly seeds, berries, worms and insects foraging on the ground or in the branches of bushes, shrubs and trees. Males often catch flies from open perches while the female prefers doing this from lower, sheltered stations.
Singing
Male Lazuli buntings are tireless singers using prominent perches to broadcast their song across their territory. As a yearling each male develops an individual song which they sing for life. They learn how to sing by listening to males in their neighbourhood singing which may sound similar but is a different 'accent' to those of different neighbourhoods.
Nesting and Breeding
Though they are generally monogamous they are known to interbreed with Indigo buntings producing hybrids.
They like to nest in vines, thick bushes or low trees, often 2-4 feet from the ground. It is the task of the female to choose the nesting site and build the nest in an open cup shape. She will use locally found materials such as grass, weeds, leaves, bark and use animal hair, and soft grass to line it. Caterpillar silk is often wound around the outside.
The female lays 3-4 eggs and it is her task to incubate which takes about 12 days and look after the newly hatched young while the male hunts for food for them.
Although the young will leave the nest after 9-11 days they will stay nearby hidden in undergrowth for several days. The parent birds will continue to feed the young for about two weeks after this. If the female starts another brood it will be the task of the male to continue feeding them until they can look after themselves.
Migration
Lazuli buntings migrate to Mexico in the winter after they have begun moulting following the breeding season. They form into large flocks when travelling stopping over at places in southern Arizona, New Mexico and other areas to finish moulting before moving on to their winter destinations.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies them a Least Concern Species on their Red List.
© 21/10/2009 zteve t evans
Though they are generally monogamous they are known to interbreed with Indigo buntings producing hybrids.
They like to nest in vines, thick bushes or low trees, often 2-4 feet from the ground. It is the task of the female to choose the nesting site and build the nest in an open cup shape. She will use locally found materials such as grass, weeds, leaves, bark and use animal hair, and soft grass to line it. Caterpillar silk is often wound around the outside.
The female lays 3-4 eggs and it is her task to incubate which takes about 12 days and look after the newly hatched young while the male hunts for food for them.
Although the young will leave the nest after 9-11 days they will stay nearby hidden in undergrowth for several days. The parent birds will continue to feed the young for about two weeks after this. If the female starts another brood it will be the task of the male to continue feeding them until they can look after themselves.
Migration
Lazuli buntings migrate to Mexico in the winter after they have begun moulting following the breeding season. They form into large flocks when travelling stopping over at places in southern Arizona, New Mexico and other areas to finish moulting before moving on to their winter destinations.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies them a Least Concern Species on their Red List.
© 21/10/2009 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright October 21, 2009 zteve t evans
Copyright October 21, 2009 zteve t evans
- Lazuli Bunting Photo Credit - http://www.naturespicsonline.com/ - Public Domain
- I087b Lazuli Bunting - Public Domain - Leander Sylvester Keyser - http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25973/25973-h/25973-h.htm
- Lazuli bunting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Lazuli Bunting, Identification, All About Birds
- Lazuli Bunting | National Audubon Society Birds