Indigo Bunting

[heavyhitterokra]

Indigo Bunting

Today, after the rain, I really got a wonderful treat.  I was just about to cross the footbridge to feed the chickens, when I noticed something odd, splashing around in the clear, shallow, water in the little creek behind our house.  It was a bright, bright, blue ... like one of those little blue-tailed lizards that I see ever so often in the woods.  It took me a moment to realize that it was a bird.  It figured out that I was a human at about the same time that I figured out it was a bird and flew away to a nearby branch to get a better look. What a contrast to the crisp, green, foliage of early June, just after a heavy rain!  

it was a beautiful a male Indigo Bunting, the color of which words cannot describe.


For lack of a word to describe that color to my wife when I got back inside, I looked up the description of an Indigo Bunting on birds and blooms.
www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/bird-species/finches-and-buntings/indigo-bunting/


Here is their description: Like all finches, indigo buntings have short, conical bills. The males' lovely coloration is actually an optical illusion, despite the fact that their bodies contain no blue pigment.  In this illusion, light refraction gives their plumage an iridescent azure sheen.

I'd say that comes fairly close to describing it; an iridescent, azure, blue.  What a beautiful bird! 

God really does make some cool stuff!  I felt blessed, just to get a short glimpse of it. 

[macmex]

Thanks for sharing, Ron. I've seen these from time to time, especially on Elm Grove Rd, when I'm heading to work this time of year (it's light by then). They flit across the road like little blue fireworks! I had to listen twice to the recording of their song. It's right in the range that I have trouble hearing. First time through I didn't think there was anything playing.

[john]

They are such pretty birds and are a rare sight to see here. I can't think of any birds that are prettier, although I am biased because blue is my favorite color.

[heavyhitterokra]

There are also green Buntings. They are as green as a blade of grass. I've also seen Painted Buntings, but it has been almost twenty years ago. The Painted Buntings are bright green, red, and indigo blue.

Below, are a few photos of the Painted Bunting.

www.google.com/search?q=painted+bunting&sxsrf=ALiCzsbnECH_ceK6ZosdFSpVTK1FPx5jvw:1655230439433&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&fir=GWP8QIJ7gk3kFM%252CtdCDQKzu655w4M%252C_%253BU6JnQ4YAlJIncM%252CzaEPBpUSpwjxvM%252C_%253BxkTrC0coSeQigM%252CXN0A32moOAkMoM%252C_%253BEnVmhPahYg7hXM%252Cd_du2SDlMZQJXM%252C_%253BASQokORB1XAZhM%252CxTzkagXTn9q6XM%252C_%253BRlMJ1wy9wVqDYM%252CHEkX-Nd-xhkb1M%252C_%253B0K45BRGG0KEpjM%252CCSHzCPsyWfJZ6M%252C_%253BdEGPPM64Ql52mM%252CaaKyE-dw_4bCRM%252C_%253BsUWvfP3CHQb__M%252CygnmHLcgNLOuhM%252C_%253BejjnPW2c_AwNlM%252C0PUnB_FmbdtqTM%252C_%253BBOok8nYZ5_Ow8M%252CiUhdc0udvRsjvM%252C_%253BPfHpcY5kbuk1DM%252C5rz7BkEE8W6s0M%252C_&usg=AI4_-kQAmMgy7qspMlVMhN0lxajes11IKg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8ivTyxa34AhXZmGoFHSxPDzkQ9QF6BAgZEAE#imgrc=GWP8QIJ7gk3kFM