Tag Archives: indigo Bunting

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Indigo Buntings at Dix Park, Raleigh NC

By Sally Siko

The thing about bird photography is this, birds don’t always cooperate haha!
I went to the sunflower field at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh NC last week to try and catch a few photos of an Indigo Bunting perched on a sunflower.
Unfortunately the birds weren’t in the mood to grant my wishes as most of the time the Buntings were either sitting on top of this lone cornstalk or flitting through the leaves in search of a meal.
In the end I opted to try and get a portrait of one *near a sunflower (nice colors) so this is what I came away with lol!



Speaking of color, these brightly colored feathered gems are named for their deep sea-blue plumage that looks like indigo dye. The males appear to be blue with a tinge of black on the face, wings and tail. Females are toned in a lovely tannish-brown.



Although this bunting is known for its rich hues, that blue color on the males is actually a trick of light.
Believe it or not, adult male indigo buntings in full breeding plumage are covered in black feathers, but thanks to the diffraction of light by the feather structure, they appear to be a brilliant blue, a colour that changes from black to blue to turquoise as the angle of reflected light changes.
Pretty neat, huh?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds

Field Notes

Indigo Bunting vs. Blue Grosbeak ID

By Sally Siko

With similar colors and habitat preferences, Indigo Buntings & Blue Grosbeaks can be difficult to tell apart.
I’ve often been asked often what ID marks are helpful in differentiating the species so here are a couple of notes which may help you in the field.

Indigo Bunting


-Indigo Bunting-
*Male and female Indigo Buntings lack wingbars. Adult male wings are entirely blue with black points.
*Indigo Buntings have a much smaller, narrower, pointy beak.
*The head of an Indigo Buntings is rounded, smaller and more delicate.

Blue Grosbeak


-Blue Grosbeak
*Male Blue Grosbeaks have two rusty colored wingbars. While not as pronounced as on the males, the tan-colored females will also show two brownish wingbars.
*Similar to Northern Cardinals, Blue Grosbeaks have a large, heavy triangular shaped bill, the top edge of which nearly forms a straight line into the forehead.
*The head of a Blue Grosbeaks is large and squared off giving them a decidedly block-headed appearance.

Bonus Tip!
Size: The average Blue Grosbeak is nearly twice the weight of an Indigo Bunting.
This is something you’ll notice if you happen to see both species in the same day.


Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak species comparison

One of my favorite places to visit during late summer is the Art Park at the NCMA in Raleigh North Carolina. Along with the wide array of colors in flower fields there are plenty of beautiful birds to be found here too.
Two species which are particularly common in the area are the Indigo Bunting and the Blue Grosbeak.
Even on a cloudy day, these gorgeous azure hued birds are absolutely stunning when viewing them at close range.

With similar colors and habitat preferences, Indigo Buntings & Blue Grosbeaks can be difficult to tell apart.
I’ve often been asked often what ID marks are helpful in differentiating the species so here are a couple of notes which may help you in the field.


-Indigo Bunting-(1st photo)
*Male and female Indigo Buntings lack wingbars. Adult male wings are entirely blue with black points.
*Indigo Buntings have a much smaller, narrower, pointy beak.
*The head of an Indigo Buntings is rounded, smaller and more delicate.


-Blue Grosbeak-(2nd photo)
*Male Blue Grosbeaks have two rusty colored wingbars. While not as pronounced as on the males, the tan-colored females will also show two brownish wingbars.
*Similar to Northern Cardinals, Blue Grosbeaks have a large, heavy triangular shaped bill, the top edge of which nearly forms a straight line into the forehead.
*The head of a Blue Grosbeaks is large and squared off giving them a decidedly block-headed appearance.

Bonus Tip!
Size: The average Blue Grosbeak is nearly twice the weight of an Indigo Bunting.
This is something you’ll notice if you happen to see both species in the same day.
If you’d like to test your ID skills in telling these blue beauties apart, the North Carolina Museum of Art Park is an excellent place to do this!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

Indigo Bunting at Bynum Bridge

Though they are a common sight here in central NC, it’s tough to not stop and appreciate the beauty of a singing Indigo Bunting when out on a trail.
I mean look at those colors! With that array of sapphire, turquoise and amethyst plumage sparkling in the sun, it’s a pallet that any jeweler would admire.



I found this Indigo Bunting at Bynum Bridge while leading a trip there last week. Perched on his twig, he sang constantly only stopping to chase away any other males who entered his territory.
Interestingly, male Painted Buntings learn to sing their complex tunes from other males near their territory instead of from their parents. As a whole, these songs are repeated and may evolve into a certain kind of uniformity over the years which I’d loosely describe as a small localized accent or dialect shared by nearby males.
In fact, a male Painted Buntings can tell when an intruder Bunting is ‘not from around here just by his song.



Painted Buntings are a summertime resident of North Carolina. Arriving in April to breed, they nest throughout most of the state and may be found in varying numbers in all 100 counties during the warmer months.
Look (and listen!) for these gorgeous feathered gems in tall grassy fields, agricultural lands and in open clear cut areas containing grass and scrub brush.
Btw, if you live in a rural area, Indigo Buntings can also be enticed to visit your yard (especially in the autumn) if you offer nyjer and millet seed in your feeders.
They’ll stick around the Tarheel state until October so we’ve still got plenty of time to enjoy these beauties before the year is done.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

The soundtrack of summer: Indigo Buntings at Yates Mill Park

The soundtrack of springtime in North Carolina is set by an Indigo Buntings cheerful song echoing over sun baked grassy fields.
Male Indigo Buntings are persistent singers. Even on the hottest of days, they can be spotted warbling their sweet, double-noted song from treetops, telephone wires, and other elevated perches with a commanding view.



I photographed this handsome male while on a recent birding trip to Yates Mill Park and Mid Pines rd.
What struck me about him was that he was silent lol! There were at least 4 other males in the area singing so perhaps he was just trying to keep a low profile while moving through the other’s territory.

Speaking of territory, the vast grass fields and swamp area at Mid Pines Rd. and at Yates Mill Park are the perfect habitats favored by breeding Indigo Buntings.
They typically nest in dense shrubs or in the crook of small trees no more than 3ft off of the ground along the wood line at the edges of an open area. Most of the time it’s the males that you’ll spot first as they will choose a tall tree to sing near the nest site. Females are more secretive and tend to keep to the cover of the shrubs.



Indigo Buntings are found in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties from April through late October. Happily this is a songbird species who’s range is growing so there’s plenty of places to find them from the mountains to the coast. If you haven’t seen one yet this year then there is still plenty of time to go see one!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Indigo Buntings at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh, NC

Check out this handsome fellow singing his heart out at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh, NC.
It’s an Indigo Bunting!
This species is one of the most vibrantly colored birds we’ve got here in North Carolina.
They are normally spotted from April to October and can be found in wide open fields which contain a few tall trees with scrub brush mixed into the grass.



Indigo Buntings are named for their deep blue color that makes them look like they’ve been dipped in indigo dye, yet they are actually dressed in black plumage.
Though they may look colorful, it’s a trick of the light which gives them this boldly hued appearance.
How can this be?

The secret to their incredible colors lies in their unique feather structure which diffracts sunlight to show only a visible blue wave length.
And because the blue is a light show rather than true pigmentation, depending on the angle or quality of the sunlight the Buntings can appear to have several shades of the blue color ranging from aqua to cobalt showing in it’s feathers.
Pretty neat huh?
🙂

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the badassssss full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

An Indigo Bunting encounter at the NCMA

It’s hard not to stop and stare whenever an Indigo Bunting is encountered.
Those bright blue feathers are a real show stopper!
I spotted this male at the North Carolina Museum of Art a couple of weeks ago in Raleigh, NC. He stood out like a sapphire beacon in the green canopy of trees.



These beautiful birds will be here in central N.C. for a few more weeks before they head out for their autumn migration.
And what a journey they’ve got ahead of them!
Navigating by night, guided by the stars, Indigo Buntings will often travel up to 1,200 miles to reach their wintering grounds in south Florida and northern South America.
They’ll stick around N.C. until mid October so there is still time for you to see them.
You can help them fuel up for their long trip by offering Nyjer, Millet and Sunflower seeds in your backyard feeder.
Make sure that you keep your feeders clean and full during this important time and enjoy these gorgeous little birds while you can!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

How to tell an Indigo Bunting apart from a Blue grossbeak

Have you ever wondered how to tell an Indigo Bunting apart from a Blue Grosbeak?
Both species are both found here in central N.C. They share a common habitat preference too (open fields and thickets at the edge of the woods) thus these similar looking birds are often confused for the other.
Here’s a quick list of points to consider when trying to asses the ID of these azure hued feathered gems.

Indigo Bunting



-Indigo Bunting-
*Male and female Indigo Buntings lack wingbars. Adult male wings are entirely blue with black points.
*Indigo Buntings have a much smaller, pointy beak.
*The head of an Indigo Buntings is rounded, smaller and more delicate.

Blue Grosbeak



-Blue Grosbeak-
*Male Blue Grosbeaks have two rusty colored wingbars. While not as pronounced as on the males, the tan-colored females will also show two brownish wingbars.
*Similar to Northern Cardinals, Blue Grosbeaks have a large, heavy triangular shaped bill, the top edge of which nearly forms a straight line into the forehead.
*The head of a Blue Grosbeaks is large and squared off giving them a decidedly block-headed appearance.

Size: The average Blue Grosbeak is nearly twice the weight of an Indigo Bunting.
This is something you’ll notice if you happen to see both species in the same day.
A good place to do this is at the Mid Pines Rd. dog leg on the agricultural campus of N.C. State University near Yates Mill Park in Raleigh.
Another great spot to view both species is the Art Park at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, Instagram Birding, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

An Indigo Bunting landed on my hand at yates Mill Park in raleigh N.C.

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I had such a good time birding with Myra Murphy on my trip to Yates Mill Park in Raleigh, NC this morning! After a week of rain, it was wonderful to get outside again. Everything was as green and fresh as could be, just gorgeous 🙂 Together we ticked 18 species along the way as we hiked west along the Creekside Trail including a White-eyed Vireo, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, an Eastern Kingbird, Great crested Flycatcher and more. One of the coolest parts of the trip was when an Indigo Bunting landed on my hand after I called him. It only happened in a split second but wow was that an incredible moment! Here’s a picture of this brave blue wonder. I’ve found that some birds are more responsive to pishing calls then others. Chickadees, Northern Parulas and Red-eyed Vireos are particularly inquisitive little ones who will often fly in for a very close look when calling them. To try a pish call yourself, just make a loud shhhhhh noise but start with a p instead of an s. Although I’ve experienced this behavior many times, I’m still amazed that pishing at birds actually works. Photo by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the @canonusa #5ds

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Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A great Indigo Bunting sighting at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh, N.C.

Had an excellent morning of birding at Yates Mill Park in Raleigh, North Carolina with a (wonderful!) photography client of mine @heather_lynne7 !
We saw some beautiful birds and took some nice pictures along the way .

Indigo Bunting



This is a male Indigo Bunting that we spotted along the wetlands trail. Lol, we spent about 15 minutes trying to get a clear view of him as he fluttered overhead in and out of the canopy of wet leaves. It was a real challenge for sure!



These brilliantly colored birds are somewhat common here in central NC. A familiar summertime resident, they can be found singing in both dark deciduous forests and sunny open fields alike.
Although their main diet consists of insects, they absolutely adore eating nyjer and thistle seeds. Adding these seed ingredients to your bird food mix may entice them to come dine in your own backyard.

They will stick around here in the Piedmont area until around the second week of October so there’s still plenty of time to see them if you can!
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds