Brilliantly colored indigo bunting bird enjoying a bath in the rain

Indigo buntings are one of the most vibrant and beautiful birds in North America. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts take extreme delight in getting a close look at one, whether at the edge of the forest or at the back yard feeder. But these bird lovers have a pair that frequent their feeder and their pond.

Indigo buntings are one of the most striking of all the songbirds that appear at the backyard feeders in North America. They are a rare sight and an exciting one with their vibrant blue plumage. Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers anxiously watch and hope to catch a glimpse of these beauties paying them a visit.

Indigo buntings frequent the edge of forested areas and farm land, enjoying the hardwood lots where they meet meadows. The birds love seeds and berries, but they also eat a lot of insects and caterpillars. This is extremely beneficial for keeping the moths and caterpillars in check. Without them, trees and other vegetation would suffer and decline as leaves were devoured by the insects.

The male of the species is a brilliant blue during mating season, while the female is a brown colour and far less striking. During winter months, even the males are brown. This is very common in birds as more vibrant colour is a signal to the females that the males are robust and carry strong genes, making them the most desirable mates.

Amazingly, Indigo Buntings migrate at night, using the stars for guidance. These birds possess an internal clock that enables them to continually adjust their angle of orientation to the stars, even as that star moves through the night sky. This is a very unique trait.
The indigo bunting is as fascinating as it is beautiful!