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Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

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38.2399, -81.9875

Field Notes

Description:

The Indigo Bunting is a smallish songbird, around the size of a small sparrow. the male is a vibrant blue in the summer and a brown color during the winter months, while the female is brown year-round. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. Nest-building and incubation are done solely by the female. The diet of the Indigo Bunting consists primarily of insects during the summer months and seeds during the winter months.

Habitat:

The habitat of the Indigo Bunting is brushy forest edges, open deciduous woods, second growth woodland, and farmland.

Species ID Suggestions

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

Reference Link
MichaelFulbright
3

Blue Bunting

Cyanocompsa parellina

Reference Link
HeatherMiller
1

Comments (4)
HeatherMiller
Yep, Indigo Bunting...Blue Bunting's range is not West Virginia. They are related. "A group of buntings are collectively known as a "decoration", "mural", and "sacrifice" of buntings. Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear many shades from turquoise to black. They are more common now than when the pilgrims first landed. This is due to an increase in their favorite habitat of woodland edges, such as power line clearings and along roads. They migrate at night, using the pattern of stars nearest the North Star to guide them. In captivity, these birds will become disoriented if they can’t see the stars in April/May and September/October." http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/203/_/Indigo_Bunting.aspx
AngelaReneaLawson
I think it is an indigo bunting as well! Thank you everyone :) you are nature detectives.
HeatherMiller
Yes, wile it IS a blue bird, it is not a Bluebird but a Blue Bunting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bunting The Blue Bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina)
alicelongmartin
I suggest you have an Indigo Bunting there. Bluebirds have an orange and white breast.
Photographed
PublishedJune 27, 2011

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