Indigo Bunting

About the Indigo Bunting

The indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a small seed-eating bird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae. It is migratory, ranging from southern Canada to northern Florida during the breeding season, and from southern Florida to northern South America during the winter. It often migrates by night, using the stars to navigate. Its habitat is farmland, brush areas, and open woodland. The indigo bunting is closely related to the lazuli bunting and interbreeds with the species where their ranges overlap. The indigo bunting is a small bird, measuring 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5.1 in) in length. It displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is vibrant blue in the summer, with brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Passerina cyanea

Family

Cardinals and Allies

Order

Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the cardinals and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes poliogaster
• Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus
• Blue Bunting Cyanocompsa parellina
• Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
• Blue Seedeater Amaurospiza concolor
• Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanoloxia cyanoides
• Crimson-collared Grosbeak Periporphyrus celaeno
• Dickcissel Spiza americana
• Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata
• Gray-throated Chat Granatellus sallaei
• Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava
• Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena