{"id":36211,"date":"2013-05-24T23:05:05","date_gmt":"2013-05-25T03:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=36211"},"modified":"2013-05-24T23:05:05","modified_gmt":"2013-05-25T03:05:05","slug":"indigo-bunting-bird-facts-song-images-etc-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/indigo-bunting-bird-facts-song-images-etc-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigo Bunting — Bird Facts, Song, Images, Etc (VIDEO)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Indigo Bunting — Passerina cyanea<\/em> — is a species of small bird that is included in the family Cardinalidae<\/em>. It lives a migratory lifestyle, with a range extending from northern Florida up to southern Canada during the breeding season, and from southern Florida to northern South America during the offseason\/winter. The species travels primarily by night, using the constellations\/stars of the night for navigation. The bird lives primarily within farmlands, open woodlands, and brush areas. The species is relatively closely related to the Lazuli Bunting, and the two species readily interbreed in the areas where their ranges overlap, such as in the Great Plains.<\/p>\n

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Image Credit: Indigo Bunting<\/a> via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Indigo Bunting is classified as a small bird, typically being less than a half foot in body length, with a wingspan of between 7-9 inches. And an average weight of between 0.40\u20130.75 ounces. The species displays significant sexual dimorphism with regards to its coloration — the males turn a strong blue color during the summer and are brown the rest of the year, while the females are brown year-round. The reasons for the color change during the summer are very likely related to sexual selection. Another notable fact is that the nest-building and incubation are done entirely by the females in this species, the males don’t participate. The birds are known to be generally monogamous, “but not always faithful to their partner. Most pairings raise two broods per year, and the male may feed newly fledged young while the females incubate the next clutch of eggs.” The diet of the Indigo Bunting is mostly based around insects during the summer, and seeds during the winter.<\/p>\n