Indigo Buntings

[altivo]

We have indigo buntings. That completes our usual summer bird list, since we saw a red headed woodpecker several times on Sunday. I saw one bunting a week ago, but now we have several males making themselves visible around the feeders. Click photo at right for more information about these tiny, intensely blue birds. They are tiny, the size of a nuthatch or a small sparrow, but what they lack in size they make up in brilliant color and loud little bursts of song.

They probably won't stay around for long. Usually we see them in May and that's the end of it here, though other people in the county say they have them all summer. I suspect that our yard area is too shady for them and they prefer a more open place with sun. After all, in the shade their blue feathers don't look quite as brilliant. The females are plain brown, though I haven't yet seen one.

In past years I'd have been expecting to see bluebirds out in the pasture, but for the last couple of years they've been absent. Dunno why, there were lots of them before that. Hopefully they'll be back. Barn swallows are nesting in the horse barn. Orioles are singing and visiting feeders here regularly. We've seen a hummingbird two or three times. Now where's the tufted titmouse? Too shy, I expect, though it should be here. I've only seen one in our yard ever. I saw a yellow bellied sapsucker back in March, but just once. We'd like to see more of them too. Likewise the Eastern Towhee, who I'm assured is here, but we have yet to see.

Good thing the coming weekend is a long one, as I'm feeling worn out and it's not even Wednesday yet.

Comments

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

So...blue. :D

What a handsome looking bird.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

In bright sunlight they burn your eyes out. Forget about the red of the cardinal, which is pretty darned bright. These guys are blue-hot. (Or else they fell into an inkwell, I'm not sure which.)

Ain't nature bootiful

[vimsig.livejournal.com]

how truly lovely! do they flock? They would make your trees look covered in blue flowers.

Re: Ain't nature bootiful

[altivo.livejournal.com]

They are spectacular all right. I don't think they flock in large numbers, but they do supposedly appear in groups of six to ten at a time. The most I've ever seen at once is about three.

[murakozi.livejournal.com]

Wow. What an amazing looking bird. I'd love to see one of those and really experience that color.

Is it just me, or do most all small birds seem to look like they've got an attitude?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It varies. These guys are pretty shy, actually, and avoid larger birds. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, are like the chihuahuas of the bird world. ;p

The indigo bunting should be found in your area. Perhaps not right where you live, but certainly around where the stables are. In spite of its color, it can be easy to overlook. Quite small, and tends to fly off at the least commotion.

the bird with the crystal plumage...

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Though I never liked birds- especially as pets- I do have to say that they've got some beautiful plumage. Most color pics I see of them bring this to mind immediatly.

Re: the bird with the crystal plumage...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh these are colorful all right. Interesting too that they're fairly close relatives to the Northern Cardinal, which is famous for its bright red.

Re: the bird with the crystal plumage...

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

*nods* Believe it or not, I've seen those in Florida. They are pretty.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the color of those guys.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It's startling all right.

[heavens-steed.livejournal.com]

What a pretty bird. It's nice that you get to see such a wide variety of animal life.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, more wildlife was one of the things I hoped for when we moved away from the city and it also is one of the things we actually got. There were others, of course, that didn't turn out quite as planned.

Worse, as we approach ten years, some of the original very welcome benefits are disappearing. Light pollution has already wrecked our view of the night sky, and the blessed quiet I so appreciated in the first couple of years has all but gone as well due to very noisy neighbors and greatly increased traffic.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

An Australian Lyre Bird would love those Indigo Buntings :)
A titmouse? Are they tasty? *goes to chase the Barn swallows being careful not to upset the horses*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Nah. A titmouse is so small that by the time you got rid of the feathers there'd be nothing left to bother with. Try the neighbors' chickens instead. There are still a few that the fox hasn't snatched.