Indigo Bunting

14 cm (5-6") Common. Southeastern Canada; eastern United States west to Great Plains, range expanding west and southwestern to Arizona, New Mexico, California. Brushy pastures, fields grown to scrub, open clearings, rural roadsides (perches on wires).

Male: rich deep almost iridescent blue overall. No wing bars. Sparrow-like bill. Smaller than similar Blue Grosbeak. In poor light it appears black.

Sings late into August even at midday.

Female: drab brown upperparts. Buffy underparts. Breast is lightly streaked. Resembles female Varied Bunting.

Song: excitable warble.

Videos

Images

Credit: Kenneth Cole Schneider

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Credit: Evangelio Gonzalez

Distribution Maps

Indigo Bunting distribution map

Indigo Bunting winter distribution map