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Indigo bunting facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea, is a small seed-eating bird. It is known for its amazing long journeys. This bird flies from southern Canada to northern Florida for breeding. In winter, it travels from southern Florida to northern South America. Indigo buntings often fly at night. They even use the stars to find their way! You can find them in farmland, bushy areas, and open woodland. The indigo bunting is a close relative of the lazuli bunting.


Quick facts for kids
Indigo bunting
Passerina cyaneaAAP086CA.jpg
Male (above), female (below)
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Passerina
Species:
P. cyanea
Binomial name
Passerina cyanea
(Linnaeus, 1766)
IndigoBuntingRangeMapCropped.png
Range of the indigo bunting

     Summer-only range     Migratory range     Winter-only range

Synonyms

Cyanospiza cyanea

About the Indigo Bunting

The indigo bunting is a small bird. It is about 11.5 to 13 cm (4.5–5 in) long. Male and female indigo buntings look different.

Male and Female Birds

The male indigo bunting is a bright, beautiful blue in summer. This bright color helps him attract a mate. In winter, the male's feathers turn brown. The female indigo bunting is brown all year.

What They Eat

Indigo buntings change their diet with the seasons. In summer, they mostly eat insects. This helps them get enough energy for breeding. In winter, they switch to eating seeds.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

The female indigo bunting does most of the work for her babies. She builds the nest all by herself. She also sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This is called incubation.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Azulejo índigo para niños

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Indigo bunting Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.