Weekend Birding: Indigo Bunting
The Indigo Bunting is a small, stocky bird found in the eastern two-thirds of the US and southern Canada and is a member of the finch family. In the winter they migrate to southern Florida and the tropics.
During breeding season the male is a brilliant blue and can often be found singing from the tops of trees or power lines. The female is a light brown and from a distance almost looks like a sparrow.
They are fairly common birds and I often hear them singing or catch of quick glimpse of the male but I rarely get a good opportunity to photograph them.
Last weekend I finally found a cooperative bird singing his heart out at the top of a willow tree. Unfortunately he was almost out of range of my zoom lens. While the photo is not as sharp as I would like, you can still see how brilliant and beautiful he is, almost blending in with the sky.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Under My Apple Tree 
I do look forward to your posts – you have such a wealth of wildlife where you live, and make it so interesting. My Snapshot is at http://goo.gl/S95dh
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There are over 200 species of birds in my county alone. I haven’t seen more than half of them. And some of them are camera shy!
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Ohh the colour of that bird is gorgeous! (You’re also slowly teaching me the names of birds!)
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He’s gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. I’m always thrilled to see a bluebird. Blue jays, now we have plenty of those right outside our windows. Here’s Mine
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I have lots of blue jays too. They come right up to the feeder and knock all the little birds off. I haven’t had a bunting or bluebird in my yard … not yet anyway.
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What a beauty. Wonder if we have them in New England as I’ve never seen one.
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Yes, you have them. They rarely show up in backyards though. You have to walk the nature trails and parks to see them. I usually find them by hearing their song and then watching the top of the tree for one to pop up.
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What a gorgeous color!
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What an extraordinary colour, it must be amazing to see that flit past.
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We don’t have any birds as blue as that around here. Very pretty.
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Beautiful bird! Sexual dimorphism in birds is very interesting.
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Some of it is so dramatic. The Red-winged Blackbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are two more where the females look like sparrows and the males are dramatically colored.
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Wow! The blue is absolutely amazing….and it looks so impressive the way it stands out against the blue sky. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
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I’ve only seen one in my entire life … they are just. so. blue.
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Until I went on a birdwalk I had never seen one. The trick was to listen for their song, then watch the tree for the bird.
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Wow, thankful for your Zoom Lens! (Jealous!) You.ll always see me with my iPhone trying to catch the heron that hangs out by our pond, but I always miss. 😉
Come see my snapshot for today.
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He is beautiful! I’m surprised I’ve never seen one before…
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He is so very blue! I would think he’d be easy to miss what with blending into the sky like that. 🙂
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A beautiful bird! Great details in this shot!
Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate
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Wow, great shot! And yes, he’s a lovely shade of blue. Wish we had birds that cool in my next of the woods. The most exciting thing we get here is the occasional cardinal. 🙂
Here’s my Saturday Snapshot. Happy weekend!
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We don’t have this lovely birds here in Washington State–further proof that we have very boring birds here!
*smiles*
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Beautiful indigo color. I love your bird snaps.
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He is camoflaged with the sky, isn’t he? Beautiful!
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That’s a wonderful brilliant blue. Now if I can only hear the indigo bunting sings.
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lovely.
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Great picture! What a pretty bird!
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Nice photo… like to hear its song too. 😉
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Wow!!!!! So pretty. Glad you were just able to capture him.
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Beautiful photo. I’ve never seen an indigo bunting but I’m still hoping! Here’s my belated photo posted earlier in my vacation week:http://www.barbarathehealthynut.blogspot.com/2012/07/gone-hikin.html
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He is beautiful, such a bright blue.
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What a beautiful, blue photo! The softer focus is quite lovely.
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Gorgeous photo of a gorgeous bird!
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