BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE 19 



Bunting, Indigo (Passerina cyanea) 



The haunts of this bunting are in brushy hillsides, slashings 

 and bushy gardens. It is a small bird, not quite so large as a 

 house sparrow but the female has something of the appearance 

 of a sparrow. It is a common bird in central and western New 

 York and also in the coastal district. 5-5.75 



Call no. 

 Nu Bul Adult Male on Stick at Feeding Station. Ithaca. (May 29, 

 1917) Allen 



The bird has been attracted by millet during a cold spell when 

 insects were hard to find. This species usually feeds on insects 

 during the summer and on seeds during the fall and winter. 



Nu BuI2 Adult Female on Side of Nest in Raspberry Bush. (June 

 10, 191 S) Allen 



The bunting builds a soft, tufted nest of vegetable fiber, usually 

 with a number of dead leaves woven into the foundation. 



Nu BuI3 Adult Female Incubating. (June 16, 1915) Allen 



Nu BuI4 Nest and Eggs with Cowbird's Egg in Black Raspberry 

 Bush. Geneseo Bailey 



At what time of year was this taken? 



Nu BuI5 Adult Male Clinging to Perch over Nest with Young; 

 Nest Decorated with Cotton. Ithaca. (June 24, 1917) 



Allen 



It is unusual for the male to feed the young, but the young 

 birds expect food. Compare coloring of male and female. Note 

 the cotton in the nest. Indigo birds generally use dead leaves 

 but these used cotton put out for them. 



Bunting, Snow {Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis) 



Also called snowflake. Holarctic in distribution. Common 

 winter visitant in New York, though rather irregular in occur- 

 rence, c? 7-7.35; $ 6-6.5 



Nu BuS6 Adult Feeding upon Grain Spread on Snow. Geneseo. 

 (March 5, 1916) Bailey 



One of the weed destroyers. 



