Indigo Buntings in Colorado
When indigo buntings are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect indigo buntings in Colorado
Indigo Buntings are summer residents in Colorado, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars, grasshoppers and beetles.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, indigo buntings typically nest from May–August. Nest site: cup in dense shrubs near the ground. Females lay 3–4 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 8–14 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Indigo Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Colorado plants that attract indigo buntings
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover indigo buntings use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding indigo buntings through the Colorado year
Migrates at night by the stars; males sing from utility lines along brushy edges all summer.
- Best foods: Nyjer, Millet, Hulled sunflower.
- In Colorado's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for indigo buntings · Best feeder for indigo buntings
Frequently asked
Are indigo buntings in Colorado year-round?
No. Indigo Buntings are summer breeders in Colorado and leave for the winter.
When do indigo buntings nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs May–August, with 1–3 per season. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract indigo buntings in Colorado?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for indigo buntings.
Indigo Buntings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Indigo Bunting — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Indigo Bunting life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Indigo Bunting — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.