THE INDIGO-BIRD OR INDIGO BUNTING 



Finch Family — Fringillidce 



"Length: About 5y> inches. 



Male: Head and throat deep, purplish blue, becoming lighter 

 on back and above tail; wings and tail a brownish 

 black, edged with blue. Winter plumage, brownish 

 like the female, mottled with blue. 



Female: Brown above, darker on wings and tail; no streaks 

 on back; breast grayish, washed and faintly streaked 

 with brown; belly lighter. The female resembles 

 her sparrow relatives, but may be distinguished by 

 a glint of blue in her tail and wings. 



Call-note: A sharp chip. 



Song: A burst of melody, somewhat like that of a canary, 

 loud, clear, and sweet. It is not remarkable except 

 that it may be heard during the middle of the day 

 and during the heat of midsummer. The bird sings 

 frequently from treetops. 



Habitat: In "scrubby" pastures, along roadsides — in trees and 

 bushes. 



Range: Eastern North America. Breeds east of the Great 

 Plains from North Dakota to New Brunswick, south 

 from central Texas to Georgia; winters from south- 

 ern Mexico to Panama. 



THE Indigo Bunting possesses a brilliant beauty and 

 a sweet voice. A sight of him and his pretty 

 brown mate brings a thrill of pleasure, but he holds no 

 such place in our affections as does the true bluebird. 

 He does not choose to nest close to human dwellings, but 

 prefers overgrown pastures, not too much frequented, 



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