Colorful Backyard Visitors

I will never forget the first time I saw a glimpse or a flash of the famed indigo bunting. It was foraging underneath a sideyard butterfly bush in full bloom, and this bunting was in bright blue plumage. It was almost like an illusion – and then it flew away. It was another month before I saw a movement in blue feathers fluttering underneath the millet feeder, meant for its cousins, the painted buntings. It was anotherindigo bunting in vibrant blue feathers – then it was gone! 

Upon reading about the indigo bunting, it was discovered that their bright blue coloration is merely an illusion. There is no blue pigment in its feathers, and all that blue color is created by unique structures within each feather. Indigo bunting’s feathers are actually black! Those structures within its feathers diffract the light and scatter all but the blue color. So, depending on the light, you will see the bird’s color shifting from black to brilliant blue, as if by magic! It is the most stunning blue color you will ever see! Some call it “bluer than the blue sky.” 

My neighbor, a professional photographer and a birder, had a magical encounter this spring with anindigo bunting and captured this rare backyard visitor with his camera. It is proof that indigo buntings enjoy feeding alongside the painted buntings. And they do visit backyard feeders! 

Both buntings belong to the cardinal family, and their unbelievable coloration makes them look almost unreal. Birders often travel hundreds of miles to see either one of them. But only the male indigo buntings are endowed with the magical blue colors, while the females are plain brown. 

Buntings are songbirds, and according to birdchronicle.com, the indigo bunting is an “abundant songbird, but the males are the only ones to sing and they form duets with other indigo buntings in the neighborhood.”  

The feathers of the male painted bunting are in bold colors of red, purple, blue, green, and yellow, while the females are yellow-green. According to FWC, the male painted bunting (Passerina ciris) is one of the most brightly colored songbirds in North America. The French name for the species, nonpareil (without equal), refers to its distinctive plumage. And yes, this painted bunting is also a songbird. 

And keeping it within the cardinal family, the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is widely distributed throughout the Florida ecosystem. They are not shy birds and are year-round residents of Florida.The males don’t just dazzle you with their red colors but also with their songs. The best part of morning coffee is listening to their whistling duets.  

The red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is another fascinating visitor to my backyard feeder, and they often enjoy an occasional dip in the backyard bird bath. This was a surprise to us, witnessing this woodpecker doing a full body soak. The males bear the characteristic red head with black and white barring on their backs and wings, like a zebra'sstripes. According to allaboutbirds.org, the males have a red crown and nape, while the females have a red nape and lack the red crown.As their name suggests, they have reddish/pinkish bellies. And yes, they vocalize – not quite like a songbird but more likea series of loud calls or a rhythmic drumming sound against your metal rain gutter!  

If you feed them their favorite millet mix, the buntings will come. Your patience will be rewarded with a visit from the elusive indigo bunting. Our sightings have all occurred in the spring.