Ohio · Summer breeder

Indigo Buntings in Ohio

When indigo buntings are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea

Status in Ohio: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–August
Broods: 1–3 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–7a

When to expect indigo buntings in Ohio

Indigo Buntings are summer residents in Ohio, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars, grasshoppers and beetles.

Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Nesting in Ohio

Across Ohio, 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, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.

Indigo Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, spicebush, flowering dogwood for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Native Ohio plants that attract indigo buntings

Of the regional native plants we track for Ohio, these 8 provide food or cover indigo buntings use:

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early fruit.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

High-fat fall berries.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Summer nectar and fall seed.

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Seed heads.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

Feeding indigo buntings through the Ohio year

Migrates at night by the stars; males sing from utility lines along brushy edges all summer.

Best foods: Nyjer, Millet, Hulled sunflower.
In Ohio'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 Ohio year-round?

No. Indigo Buntings are summer breeders in Ohio and leave for the winter.

When do indigo buntings nest in Ohio?

Nesting in Ohio 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 Ohio?

Serviceberry, Spicebush, Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Flowering dogwood, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry are native plants in Ohio that provide food or cover for indigo buntings.

Other backyard birds in Ohio

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

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.