The lazuli bunting is a small, brightly colored songbird found in western North America. With its vivid blue head and breast, reddish back, and white wing bars and belly, the male lazuli bunting is one of the most stunning birds found in open shrublands. Quick answer: The lazuli bunting breeds primarily in the western United States and western Canada, ranging from southern British Columbia through the western half of the United States to northern New Mexico. It winters in northwest Mexico.
This medium-sized songbird prefers open habitats with scattered trees and shrubs, such as juniper woodlands, riparian thickets, scrublands, forest edges and clearings. The lazuli bunting’s bright coloring and musical song make it a favorite among birders. With a little knowledge of this bird’s habitat and range, observers can find lazuli buntings to admire during the spring and summer breeding season.
Breeding Range and Habitat
The lazuli bunting has a large breeding range across much of western North America. This range stretches from southern British Columbia in the north, throughout the western half of the United States, to northern New Mexico in the south.
Some key areas to find lazuli buntings during breeding season include:
– The Pacific Northwest – southern British Columbia, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and southern Idaho contain shrubby habitat favored by lazuli buntings.
– The Rocky Mountains – scattered populations breed in appropriate habitat throughout the Rocky Mountains, including areas of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
– The Southwest – lazuli buntings breed in parts of the arid Southwest in shrubby, open woodlands, particularly in Arizona and New Mexico. Northern Utah also supports breeding populations.
– California – the lazuli bunting can be found along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains and in coastal valleys and foothills.
Within its breeding range, the lazuli bunting seeks out open habitats with scattered trees and shrubs. This includes:
– Juniper woodlands
– Shrubby riparian areas along streams
– Scrublands with sagebrush and other shrubs
– Open pine forests with shrubby understory
– Forest edges and clearings
The presence of shrubs for nesting sites and singing perches, along with some trees for shade, is key. Grassy areas are also favored. The lazuli bunting generally avoids densely forested areas or bare, treeless habitats.
Wintering Range
In winter, the lazuli bunting migrates to Mexico. Its winter range is concentrated in northwestern Mexico, primarily:
– The Baja California peninsula
– Sonora
– Western Chihuahua
– Sinaloa
Some lazuli buntings also winter in small numbers through Arizona and New Mexico.
In its winter range, the lazuli bunting frequents weedy, brushy areas and dry scrublands. It is often found around farmlands, pastures, and rural areas.
Identification
Identifying the lazuli bunting is straightforward during spring and summer when males are in their spectacular breeding plumage. Distinctive features include:
– Bright blue head, upper breast and back
– Rusty red upperparts
– White belly and wing bars
– Blue-gray tail with white outer tail feathers
– Conical gray bill
Females are more difficult to distinguish, with their mostly brown and white streaky plumage. Look for the wing bars and tail pattern to separate them from female house finches and sparrows.
In winter, both sexes are drab with brown upperparts and dull yellow underparts. The wing bars remain visible. Lazuli buntings are somewhat larger than house finches.
When to See Lazuli Bunting
Here are the best times to look for lazuli buntings:
Breeding Season
The peak breeding season varies across the lazuli bunting’s range:
– Pacific Northwest – mid May to early August
– Rocky Mountains – late May to mid August
– Southwest – late April to early September
– California – early May to mid September
Males are in their bright alternate plumage and females are caring for eggs and young during this time period. Lazuli buntings are most conspicuous as they sing from prominent exposed perches near potential nest sites.
Spring Migration
Lazuli buntings migrate north to their breeding grounds during April and May. Key windows include:
– California – Mid April to early May
– Pacific Northwest – Early to mid May
– Rocky Mountains – Mid to late May
– Southwest – Late April to mid May
Listen for the song during this time to detect newly arrived males. Transients also forage in low, shrubby vegetation.
Fall Migration
Southbound migration occurs in late summer and early fall, with timing very dependent on latitude:
– Pacific Northwest – Mid August to early September
– Rocky Mountains – Late August to mid September
– Southwest – Early September to early October
– California – Mid September to early October
Both adults and young migrate in loose flocks, foraging inconspicuously in low vegetation.
Winter
Lazuli buntings are present on their Mexican wintering grounds primarily from mid October to March. Numbers peak from December to February. Scan flocks of wintering sparrows in brushy areas for lazuli buntings.
Habits and Behaviors
Lazuli buntings exhibit some characteristic habits and behaviors to watch for:
– Singing – Males sing persistently from spring arrival through nesting period. Listen for the hurried song, often described as a “dripping faucet”. Singing posts are usually 6-15 feet up in a shrub or low tree.
– Skulking – Outside of migratory periods, lazuli buntings tend to stay low in dense shrubs, only emerging at the top to sing or flycatch. Finding a singing male is the best way to detect the species.
– Foraging – Lazuli buntings forage on the ground or in low vegetation for seeds and insects. Watch for their conical bill poking into plant clusters. In winter, they often forage on the ground in flocks with sparrows.
– Bathing – Males can be observed bathing in dust or shallow water, fluffing their feathers. This helps keep their bright plumage in condition.
– Aggression – Males are highly territorial on the breeding grounds. Intense chases of competing males are sometimes observed as they defend their nesting areas.
Where to Find Lazuli Buntings
Here are some specific locations and sites across the lazuli bunting’s range worth checking to find this colorful songbird during spring and summer:
California
– Kern River Preserve – Lazuli buntings breed in this riparian area in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills.
– Morro Bay State Park – Check the scrub alongside creeks and oak woodlands.
– Mt. Diablo State Park – Lazuli buntings occur along the slopes and in juniper stands.
– Yosemite National Park – Find lazuli buntings in open ponderosa pine habitat.
Pacific Northwest
– Okanogan Highlands – Abundant around Tonasket and Oroville, Washington in shrub-steppe habitat.
– Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge – Breeding lazulis around shrubby riparian habitat in Oregon.
– Boise Foothills – Try Hulls Gulch and Military Reserve areas. Listen for singing males.
– Yellowstone National Park – Present but less common; try the north entrance road area.
Rocky Mountains
– Pawnee National Grasslands – Breeding birds common in the eastern Colorado grasslands.
– Fort Collins, Colorado – Good in the foothills around Horsetooth Reservoir.
– Grand Teton National Park – Check open lodgepole pine woods.
– Bighorn Canyon NRA – Lazuli buntings breed along the foothills of the Pryor Mountains in southern Montana and northern Wyoming.
Southwest
– Sabino Canyon – A popular spot to find lazuli buntings in Tucson, Arizona.
– Cochise Stronghold Canyon – In the Dragoon Mountains of southeast Arizona.
– Bosque del Apache NWR – Occur in low numbers; check willow thickets.
– Jemez Mountains – Try shrubby ponderosa pine savannas.
Tips for Finding Lazuli Buntings
Here are some useful tips to improve your chances of observing lazuli buntings:
– Listen for singing males – This is by far the easiest way to detect lazuli buntings on their breeding grounds. Slowly drive forest roads stopping frequently to listen.
– Try early mornings – Male lazuli buntings sing actively at dawn through mid-morning to establish territories and attract mates.
– Check appropriate habitat – Focus efforts on open shrublands with scattered trees, not dense forest. Areas with sagebrush, saltbush, riparian vegetation, junipers or pines are ideal.
– Use squeaking and spishing – These sounds often elicit curiosity and cause birds to pop up into view. But use them sparingly so as not to disturb nesting birds.
– Try lazuli bunting hotspots – Visit known sites and locations where lazuli buntings reliably occur. See the site recommendations above.
– Stake out water sources – Lazuli buntings will visit open water sources like springs, ponds and small streams to bathe and drink, providing viewing opportunities.
– Stop if you find one – Where you find one lazuli bunting singing or foraging, there are likely more in the vicinity, so spend time scanning the surrounding habitat.
With a little effort focused on appropriate habitat during the breeding season, observers can find one of North America’s most dazzling songbirds – the lazuli bunting. The flash of blue from a singing male is an exciting sight.
Conclusion
The vibrant lazuli bunting is a prize sighting for birders across western North America each spring and summer. By understanding this species’ breeding range and habitat preferences, knowing when to look during the annual cycle, and using some simple birding tactics, observers can increase their chances of crossing paths with this beautiful songbird. The melodious song of the male lazuli bunting brightens any visit to juniper woodlands, shrubby slopes, riparian thickets, and other open habitats of the American West. With a little perseverance, this gem of a bunting can end up on any birdwatcher’s life list.