Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
Silhouette: Jonah Duckles · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyCardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
- GenusPasserina (North American Buntings)
- SpeciesPasserina cyanea (Indigo Bunting)
About the Indigo Bunting
The indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a small seed-eating bird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae. It is migratory, ranging from southern Canada to northern Florida during the breeding season, and from southern Florida to northern South America during the winter. It often migrates by night, using the stars to navigate. Its habitat is farmland, brush areas, and open woodland. The indigo bunting is closely related to the lazuli bunting and interbreeds with the species where their ranges overlap.
The indigo bunting is a small bird, measuring 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5.1 in) in length. It displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is vibrant blue in the summer, with brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. It is brown during the winter months, while the female is brown year-round. 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.
The indigo bunting is included in the family Cardinalidae, which is made up of passerine birds found in North and South America, and is one of seven birds in the genus Passerina... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Indigo Bunting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
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Passerina caerulea
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Black-faced Grosbeak
Caryothraustes poliogaster
Blue-black Grosbeak
Cyanocompsa cyanoides
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Habia rubica
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Dickcissel
Spiza americana
Rose-throated Tanager
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Indigo Bunting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Indigo Bunting sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 52 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Indigo Bunting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
March has the highest sighting rate for Indigo Bunting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.