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Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

Bird · family Cardinalidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
48 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
13 years[4]

The Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a small bird in the family Cardinalidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and lists it as native in 48 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Indigo Bunting a global rank of G5, which it labels Secure[2]. In the United States the rank is N5B, Secure (breeding)[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B (Secure (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Indigo Bunting lives

NatureServe lists the Indigo Bunting as native in 48 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. The list runs from Maine and Florida in the east to Washington and California in the west[3]. On GBIF, people report it most in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Texas[9]. Those counts follow how much people look, not how many birds live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S5BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5BNHWashington: native, state rank SNAWAIdaho: native, state rank SNAIDMontana: native, state rank S4BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4BMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: native, state rank S3NVWyoming: native, state rank S3BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4BSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S4BRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRBCAUtah: native, state rank S2BUTColorado: native, state rank S3BCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRBMOKentucky: native, state rank S5BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5BMDDelaware: native, state rank S5BDEArizona: native, state rank S3AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5BKSArkansas: native, state rank S5B,S5NARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5BNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5BSCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4N,S5BDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNRBOKLouisiana: native, state rank S5BLAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S2N,S5BALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (48 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS2N,S5BImperiled (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
ArizonaS3Vulnerable
ArkansasS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
CaliforniaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
ColoradoS3BVulnerable (breeding)
ConnecticutS5BSecure (breeding)
DelawareS5BSecure (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
FloridaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS5BSecure (breeding)
KentuckyS5BSecure (breeding)
LouisianaS5BSecure (breeding)
MaineS5BSecure (breeding)
MarylandS5BSecure (breeding)
MassachusettsS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MontanaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaS3Vulnerable
New HampshireS5BSecure (breeding)
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS5BSecure (breeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
PennsylvaniaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5BSecure (breeding)
South DakotaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS2BImperiled (breeding)
VermontS5BSecure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5BSecure (breeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS3BVulnerable (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records hardwood woodland, shrubland, old fields, cropland with hedgerows, and riparian areas, which are the lands beside streams and rivers[11]. Breeding birds use forest edges, clearings, brushy areas and weedy fields, and they avoid mature forests[12]. They nest low in dense cover such as saplings, bushes and thickets[12]. During migration they use open grasslands, bushes and leafy trees[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Indigo Bunting eats insects, weed seeds, small grains and small fruits[13]. Adults are about 14 cm (6 in) long[14] and weigh about 15 g[15]. Clutch size is commonly three or four, and the female incubates for 12 to 13 days[16]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild in AnAge is 11 years[17]. The oldest known banded wild bird was at least 13 years 3 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 14 cm (6 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 15 g (0.5 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[17] 11 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 13 years 3 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 3.5
Gestation or incubation[19] 12 days
Female maturity[20] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[21] Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[22] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[23]

  • 100% seeds

When to look for it

The Indigo Bunting is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[24]. It is a long-distance migrant[22]. Males generally appear in the nesting range in May[25]. They reach Costa Rica in early to mid-October and leave by late April[25]. GBIF records peak in May, June and July, which shows when people report the bird[26].

January: 6,974 recordsJanFebruary: 7,493 recordsFebMarch: 12,000 recordsMarApril: 282,239 recordsAprMay: 1,160,691 recordsMayJune: 768,063 recordsJunJuly: 582,891 recordsJulAugust: 333,712 recordsAugSeptember: 190,072 recordsSepOctober: 133,062 recordsOctNovember: 14,605 recordsNovDecember: 4,608 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January6,974
February7,493
March12,000
April282,239
May1,160,691
June768,063
July582,891
August333,712
September190,072
October133,062
November14,605
December4,608

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Indigo Bunting as present in 188 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 164 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Texas[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Indigo Bunting endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure, worldwide[2].
Where does the Indigo Bunting live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 48 US states and territories[3]. It uses forest edges, brushy areas and weedy fields when breeding[12].
What does the Indigo Bunting eat?
It eats insects, weed seeds, small grains and small fruits[13].
How big is the Indigo Bunting?
It is about 14 cm (6 in) long[14] and weighs about 15 g[15].
How long does an Indigo Bunting live?
The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 13 years 3 months old[4]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 11 years in the wild[17].

Facts and sources

  1. Indigo Bunting is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Indigo Bunting: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Indigo Bunting as native in 48 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Indigo Bunting from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 13 years 3 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a bird in the family Cardinalidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B (Secure (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Indigo Bunting is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Indigo Bunting: Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Texas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Indigo Bunting (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Indigo Bunting: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Indigo Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Indigo Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 14 cm (6 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 15 g (0.5 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Indigo Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 11 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3.5. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  21. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe migration category for Indigo Bunting: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% seeds. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Indigo Bunting. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Indigo Bunting in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Indigo Bunting as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.