Bright Blue Indigo Bunting

by Alexis Hayes
(Markham, Ontario, Canada)

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

If I had a bucket list for birds I'd love to see and photograph, two of those birds would be the Scarlet Tanager and the Indigo Bunting.

Last week while walking through Rouge Park Woodlands in Scarborough I finally saw and photographed my first Indigo Bunting.

Although common to the area it's only 5 1/2 inches long and usually stays well hidden in vines, shrubs and thickets.

It was his warble that made me aware of where he was.

Beautiful picture, thank you so much for sending this to us, our readers will love it!

Comments for Bright Blue Indigo Bunting

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starstarstarstarstar 		Important news about Indigo Buntings
by: John

Some people stop filling bird feeders in late spring, Indigo Buntings will eat out of them till the bugs that they prefer come out! Also migrating species as well enjoy.
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starstarstarstarstar 		About Indigo Buntings
by: Anonymous

Greetings. I live in Mono and I am blessed with them every year. They feed at feeders until the bugs they prefer are available, then they stop at your feeder, as an expert bird bander told me. Enjoy them while you can!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Amazing Indigo Bunting
by: Paul

I saw my first Indigo Bunting in feeder in Ajax
this morning. What an incredible sight!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting Seen today
by: Roy Storey

I saw this bird on my Niger feeder in North Bay Ontario this morning, first time ever, left before I could get a photo.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting in the middle of Brampton!
by: Karen

My first sighting of this gorgeous bird was on May 16 at my bird feeder in the middle of Brampton. We are fortunate to live in the older section where there are many, varied mature trees and larger backyards within a very urban area. We have different feeders, but I’ve never seen this bird before. So exciting, it would be wonderful if it stayed!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo bunting
by: Anonymous

I just had two Indigo Bunting males at my bird feeder, Oakville, Ontario.
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starstarstarstarstar 		So Blue
by: Debbie, from Pickering

First sighting ever, such a vibrant colour.
Saw him at my feeder, what a great way to start the day.
May 2019
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting Guelph ON
by: Ryan Johnston

Great find! I saw an Indigo Bunting on my road -cycle between Guelph, Ontario, and Waterloo, north of Hwy #7. It was my first and I'm very excited.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Buntings
by: Anonymous

I believe that this is the type of bird I saw while riding today just outside of Paris, Ontario. I have never seen one like this before. I stopped to go back but by the time I got back it had flown away. It was amazing to see!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Big Year
by: Anonymous

I'd been considering this my Big Year as I finally attracted Baltimore Orioles to feed here, and seems that a pair of Indigo Buntings have been hanging around, too. But now you have me wanting Scarlet Tanangers ...
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Buntings!
by: Leslie

We live in Combermere Ontario (north of Bancroft) and every year I get the odd glimpse of an Indigo Bunting and I hear their warble constantly. On the tenth of May EVERY YEAR the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks arrive at our feeder. This year - on the 10th of May - we not only had a flock of Grosbeaks but a pair of Indigo Bunting at our feeder also! Along with them there was a pair of Eastern Bluebirds but sadly, they found our blue Bird boxes lacking and left. The Indigo has been at our feed today as well. We have never had a Blue Bird use our boxes in the 16 years they've been up!!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Buntings
by: Anonymous

My husband and I recently watched a pair of Indigo Buntings at our feeders. Hopefully, they will nest nearby. We have many birds and feeders, we just named all the species we could recall feeding on a regular basis and there were 16, with the Indigo Bunting the count is now seventeen, hopefully they will be regulars! We could have taken pictures but were so enthralled we did not think of it.

A one-time visitor was a Saw-whet owl which rested on a decorative evergreen in the landscaping. I believe it had been blown off course during a hurricane in the U.S.A. When studying its habits it explained why it appeared so tame.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting
by: David and Fran

This beautiful little bird has been visiting our feeders for the past two days, entertaining us with his skills in sharing one particular feeder with several Goldfinches and a few Red Capped Sparrows. His aerobatic antics are amazing and at the same time a little comical.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting
by: Anonymous

June 25, 2017 - I believe that I just saw one of these in my feeder in Lefroy (Innisfil) Ontario. I am so thrilled. Never expected to ever see one here.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting
by: Alexis

Thanks for that info about High Park and lovely story.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting in High Park
by: Anonymous

I think I've seen this bird in High Park (Bloor/Keele) There is a clearing in the woods a lovely man named Ben started. He has since passed away but the area is still maintained. He put bird feeders out, knew all the birds and what time of day they'd come to feed. Worth your while to take a trip there.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting
by: Alexis

I wish I could help you there Gerry. I do know that birds return to the same place each year. It's just a matter of being in the right spot at the right time to see them. I go every year numerous times to this same spot I took this photo. Some years I see them others I don't, but I know they're there as I can hear them. Keep looking and good luck.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Bunting
by: Gerry Richardson

A beautiful bird. I shot one at Ojibway 1n 2013. I have not seen one since. Where is the best place and when are they most active?
Regards Gerry
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starstarstarstarstar 		Indigo Bunting
by: Alexis

Thanks for your comments and I'm glad my photo helped you in identifying this bird.

Lucky you to see them so often.

This was the first time I have seen one.
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starstarstarstarstar 		blue coloured dird
by: n0va59

Wow thanks...lol I see this bird quite frequently (well I have seen him at least 3 times this year) and now I know what he is...lol...thanks for the pic and the info :)

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