small seed eating bird family migratory ranging southern canada northern florida breeding season southern florida northern south_america winter night stars navigate habitat farmland brush areas open woodland closely related species ranges overlap small bird length displays sexual coloration male vibrant blue summer brown color winter months female brown year round male displays brightly colored plumage breeding season attract mate nest building solely female diet consists primarily insects summer months seeds winter months taxonomy included family birds found seven birds genus originally described 18th century work current genus derived latin term true similar small birds species latin word meaning dark sea blue closely related species ranges overlap great plains declared form according mitochondrial gene members genus determined fact sister taxa sister sister groups blue blue painted orange varied painted clade genetic study shows species diverged million years ago timing consistent fossil evidence late cooling caused evolution variety western grassland habitats evolving reduce size allowed exploit grass seeds food source description size small measures long wingspan body mass averages reported range breeding season adult male appears vibrant blue head wings tail black blue edges fall winter plumage male brown edges blue body head feathers overlap bird appear brown adult female brown lighter brown indistinct wing bars darker markings underneath immature bird resembles female coloring male hints blue tail shoulders darker streaks underside short conical adult female light brown tinged blue adult male upper half brownish black lower light blue feet legs black gray distribution habitat habitat forest edges open deciduous woods second growth woodland farmland breeding range stretches southern canada maine south northern florida eastern texas westward southern nevada winter range begins southern florida central mexico stretches south west_indies central_america northern south_america occurred antigua barbados denmark ecuador germany iceland ireland netherlands united_kingdom behavior visual cues sharp chip sexes alarm nest chick threatened high pitched contact flight song male bird high pitched sweet sweet sweet sweet lasting seconds sung mark territory males attract females male single complex song sings elevated objects posts wires bush tops areas ranges overlap males defend territories migration takes place april september october night stars navigate captivity migrate experiences april september october stars enclosure breeding birds generally faithful partner western range nesting sites located dense low tree generally ground rarely nest constructed leaves coarse grasses stems strips bark lined soft grass deer hair bound spider web constructed female cares eggs clutch consists eggs usually contains eggs white usually unmarked marked brownish spots averaging size eggs days chicks hatching chicks days hatching pairs raise year male feed newly fledged young females clutch eggs brown headed species abandon nest egg appears lay eggs accept egg point pairs nests reproductive success chicks hatch lower survival rates compete chick food diet food ground trees shrubs winter feeds flocks solitary breeding season breeding season species eats insects seeds including spiders beetles grass seeds seeds grasses diet winter insects eaten available young fed mainly insects provide protein drink frequently generally obtaining sufficient water diet status species classified concern according iucn estimated range km2 population million individuals global population trends species believed approach population decline upgrade conservation status criteria change conservation status decline years generations
Indigo bunting