INDIGO BUNTING 149 



In summer the song of this pretty, rosy Finch 

 is one of the common village sounds, but may 

 easily be mistaken for that of the Warbling 

 Vireo, until the two are heard together, when it 

 proves to be much louder and of richer quality 

 than that of the Vireo. The call note of the 

 Finch is a metallic ki?7i2), MmjJ, unlike any of 

 the Vireo's notes. 



The Purple Finch is one of the birds that 

 should be watched closely during courtship. Its 

 songs and dances are — apparently — of more 

 interest to beholders than to its prospective mate ! 



Indigo Bunting : Passerina cyanea. 



Adult male, whole body blue. Adult female, plain olive-brown 

 above, dusky below ; wings and tail black. Young, similar 

 to the female but darker. Length, about 51- inches. 



GEOGRArHic Distribution. — Eastern United States ; breeds 

 as far north as Minnesota and Nova Scotia ; winters in Cen- 

 tral America. 



In early June one of the predominating eastern 

 songs is that of the Indigo-bird, — 



Chrit-ty — chrit-ty — chrit-ty chrit, chrit, chrit, cliree, 

 Chrit-ty — chrit-ty chrit, chrit, chrit, ta, tee. 

 Chrit-ty — chrit-ty — chrit, chrit, chrit, chrit, chree. 



It seems commonplace enough when other birds 

 are singing, but when the hot weather has silenced 

 the main choir the Indigo's solo rings out with 

 great good cheer. He often takes a solitary tree, 

 and as if mounting a ladder flies higher and 

 higher up its branches as he sings. 



