Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) lives in farmland, brush areas, and open woodland across Southern Canada to northern Florida; southern Florida to northern South America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Indigo Bunting
- Indigo buntings can live up to a decade in the wild, with some individuals reaching 10 years, which means a single bird may experience many breeding cycles and migrations across continents. This longevity allows them to contribute repeatedly to seed dispersal and insect control, linking distant ecosystems over many years.
- A lean 13-gram indigo bunting burns just 0.64 kcal per hour, yet adding five grams of fat (about 47.5 kcal) extends its nonstop flight range to 688 miles, enough to cross the Gulf of Mexico without stopping. This efficiency shows how tiny birds power massive migrations with tiny fuel stores.
- Indigo buntings navigate nightly migrations by using the stars, not magnetic cues; when clouds block the sky they lose direction, showing a direct link between celestial visibility and migratory success. This reliance makes clear night skies crucial for their long-distance journeys.
- During breeding, a female builds the nest alone, lays up to four eggs (usually three or four), and incubates them for 12-13 days, after which the altricial chicks fledge in just 10-12 days. The species can raise two broods per season.
- The species spans roughly 5.9 million km² and numbers about 28 million individuals, classifying it as Least Concern, yet its range includes both temperate North America and tropical Central America, linking two very different ecosystems.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthern Canada to northern Florida; southern Florida to northern South America
HabitatFarmland, brush areas, and open woodland
DietInsects and seeds
About the Indigo Bunting
As the warm light of dawn breaks over the open fields, the Indigo Bunting stirs to life, its iridescent feathers glimmering like a fragment of fallen sky as it takes to the air. With a gentle flutter of its wings, this tiny songster navigates the intricate tapestry of grasses and wildflowers, its melodic trills ringing out across the landscape like a joyful declaration of its presence. In its effortless, ethereal dance, the Indigo Bunting embodies the very essence of summer's vibrant splendor, a fleeting yet unforgettable glimpse of celestial beauty in the mortal realm.
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Indigo Bunting photographed on Feravox
