Indigo Bunting

I saw an Indigo Bunting eating my weed seeds today from my bedroom window. I tried to take a picture of him from my deck, but when he saw me, he flew away! I almost never see them at feeding stations. It appeared he had made his home somewhere near.

Congrats birder17. It has to be an awesome sighting! I'd love to see one myself.

This message was edited Jun 24, 2010 7:51 PM

Yes, they are very pretty.

I was told that these birds favor certain type of seeds if we have them in the feeder...but I've forgotten which kind....maybe someone will help refresh my memory. Do keep us posted if you see them return please.

They like white millet seed, grass seeds, peanut hearts, and will eat small insects like aphids (yea!), spiders, mosquitoes (yea). Although, I have to tell you, I have only seen them eating grass seeds and millet. They have come to my feeders if I put out millet. I don't because house sparrows love millet also, and other birds kind of fling it around to get rid of it because they don't like it. The buntings were so shy I quit offering it.
Lily, the best way to attract any bird is with water that has a dripper or moving water. They see it as they fly over you yard.

I love the Indigo Buntings too and had put out a caged feeder with millet and a finch mix for them. But like birder17 I was getting mobbed by HOSP so I finally took it down. I am not seeing as many this year as usual around the neighborhood.

Two years ago in the spring, while I was working in my garden, I say three male indigo buntings all on my patio feeding off the floor. It was a kodak moment and what I would call priceless! I have had a least one indigo bunting every spring and see them infrequently during the summer. This was the first time I had seen the indigo bunting this year. However, this spring and summer have been exceptionally difficult with my flower beds. It seems I had my eyes to the ground most of the time. I'm not doing that next year. I started my gardens to bring the birds. What's the point if you don't have time to set back, sip a glass of iced tea and enjoy your hard labors and watch those songbirds??