Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Passerina ("sparrow") amoena ("beautiful")

Adult male Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) at Painted Canyon, North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 13-18g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

In my opinion at least, one of the most beautiful birds of North America. A brilliant blue head with a touch of orange gives it a decidedly striking look and the bird I saw, perched with the background of North Dakota's Painted Canyon only enhanced the sighting. As with it's close relation the Indigo Bunting, not a true "Bunting" in the Old World sense, but rather a member of the Cardinal family.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Passerina
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Species of the North-Western Lower 48, primarily a Summer breeding visitor
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Painted Canyon, North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Passerina ("sparrow") cyanea ("cyan") 

Adult male breeding plumage Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) at St Charles, Illinois, USA - August 2034

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 11-21g  /  Length: 11-15cm  /  Wingspan: 18-23cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name, not a relative of buntings in the Old World, but instead a member of the Cardinal family which has adapted to a fairly classical bunting like form. When in breeding plumage the male turns a brilliant blue, though as with all birds, this is a structural blue rather than a pigment. The female meanwhile is a much more subdued brown bird.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Passerina
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding migrant to East and South of the US
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen several times in St Charles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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