Taxonomy/Description

The Indigo Bunting is of the family Cardinalidae and the order Passeriformes, the largest of the avian orders. The family Cardinalidae consists of cardinals and buntings. They can range in size from about 5 ¼” to 5 ¾” and are a deep blue with some black on the wings and tail. Females of this species are generally a plain brown and paler with more distinctive streaking on the breast. 

Habitat/Diet

Indigo Buntings summer in WNY as well as most of the Eastern U.S. They prefer fields and pastures as a habitat and are often seen in clearings next to forest edges as well as old farm land. Their diet includes seeds, buds, insects and berries and forage in trees and shrubs as well as on the ground.

photo Ivan Andrijevic

Behavior/Reproduction  

The Indigo Bunting is a migratory species and spends the summer in the upper regions of the Eastern U.S. and summers in Florida as well as tropic areas. They usually form monogamous pairs, but have been known to be polygynous. Nests are typically a compact woven cup of leaves a few feet from the ground. Females lay 3-4 eggs and are responsible for incubating the eggs for 12-14 days. Indigo Buntings have altricial young which means they are blind, immobile and helpless when born. The female cares for the young after hatching with some help from the male. The young are able to leave the nest 9-10 days after hatching.

        photo Ivan Andrijevic

Vocalizations

The voice of the Indigo Bunting is characterized by the phonetic “sweet-sweet, chew-chew”.