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What's This?

Picture 2
Young Male Indigo Bunting

Photographed by Dennis Spriggs in South Texas in Feb 2005

Comment by Adrian Binns
The bird is a young male Indigo Bunting, probably a 1st year bird. There are basically 2 species to think about, Indigo and Lazuli, due to the color of the bird - light blue. Indigo shows a longer straighter bill (as shown) while Lazuli tends to be a little shorter and stubbier. Lazuli shows distinct wingbars (buffy in juvenile to white in adult, depending on age), this bird does not show that. Note the blue at the upper end of the flanks, on the breast. A male Indigo has this in transition as it goes from juvenile plumage into being an all blue adult, while on a male Lazuli it should be orangish. Other species to consider are Varied and Blue, but both are a lot darker and have a different shaped bill - short and stubby. Blue Grosbeak also have a completely different shaped bill - large and stubby, as well as showing chestnut wing bars in all ages.

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