The brown-headed cowbird may parasitize this species. Indigo buntings abandon their nest if a cowbird egg appears before they lay any of their own eggs, but accept the egg after that point. Pairs with parasitized nests have less reproductive success. The bunting chicks hatch, but have lower survival rates as they must compete with the cowbird chick for food.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
This is a migratory bird, with nesting grounds across most of the southern half of the United States and much of northern Mexico, migrating south to Central America and in very small numbers to northern South America; the southernmost record comes from eastern Ecuador. It eats mostly insects, but it will also eat snails, spiders, seeds, grains, and wild fruits. The blue grosbeak forages on the ground and in shrubs and trees.
Nice shots! Two birds I hope to some day capture, HJ! 😊
Thank you, Donna. 🙂
That’s a beautiful blue.
Indigo blue is certainly beautiful. Thanks, Susan. 🙂
Such a pleasure to visit here daily, H.J!
Thank you, my friend. Enjoy it! 🙂
Love the colour of the indigo bunting HJ
Thank you very much, Ashley. 🙂
What a beautiful blue indigo bunting!
Yes! It’s amazingly beautiful. Thank you, Chris. 🙂
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.