A Thrill of Color

Buntings always stand out in a crowd-learn where to find them and the field marks that set these birds apart.

- By Ken Keffer

One thing's for sure: When it comes to beauty and variety, it's tough to beat the buntings. They are found in a wide array of North American locations, from the high arctic tundra to the low country of the Southeast. The coloration of these birds is as distinct as their ranges. Males show everything from stark black and white palettes to a rainbow of colors. Females tend to have more subtle hints of coloring. Some buntings are related to sparrows or longspurs, while others are kin to cardinals and grosbeaks, yet another sign of their diversity. Learn more about these bright birds and where to find them.

Blue Beauties

The most widespread group, indigos are the buntings of the East. Their core breeding range stretches from southern Quebec to central Florida and west all the way to Arizona and New Mexico. Look for bright blue males singing cheery paired notes from perches in brushy fields or woodland edges.

Predominately brown, tan, and white, females and young males show hints of blue feathering. Like most other buntings, male indigos molt into a more subdued winter plumage. During migration, the blotchy birds can play tricks on even the most talented birder's eyes, as the feather coloring doesn't match up with anything in field guides. Indigo buntings will occasionally visit thistle seed feeders, so be on the lookout, especially in spring.

Jewels of the West