Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 44,412 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Indigo Bunting: observations by month (U.S.)

About Indigo Bunting

The indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a small seed-eating bird in the family Cardinalidae or cardinal. 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...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Indigo Bunting by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)

Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis

Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus

Summer TanagerPiranga rubra

Painted BuntingPasserina ciris

Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus

Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana

Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea

Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ