Lazuli Bunting: In the Yard!

Yes, another FOS today; a male Lazuli Bunting! I had them around last year, but it is earlier this year (as far as this novice birder can tell). I found this baby, just as I was leaving for work…

These guys remind me of Dark-eyed Juncos with their dark, smudgy eyes. The bird is quite small, only about five and a half inches long.

The stunning, blue body (though smaller), with white belly and orange breast band remind one of a Western Bluebird. Here in SoCo, we sometimes get all three bluebirds; Mountain Bluebirds (males are intense sky-blue from stem to stern), Eastern Bluebirds, a bit smaller and with a rufus collar and bib above a white belly, which runs down the flanks; and the Western Bluebird (the smallest at only 7” long)…a blue bird with chestnut collar and shoulders; sometimes making the back look reddish. Its belly is also white. But is only the Lazuli Bunting which has two white wing bars; besides it is nearly 25% smaller than the larger thrushes (bluebirds). Also, while a subtle observation, the little bunting seems to sit straighter on a branch, than do the bluebirds.

You can find some of last year's Lazuli Bunting posts and photos here.

More pictures, including larger versions of these thumbnail images, are available at Google images.