Oklahoma · Summer breeder

Indigo Buntings in Oklahoma

When indigo buntings are present in Oklahoma, when they nest, which native Oklahoma plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea

Status in Oklahoma: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–August
Broods: 1–3 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 6a–8a

When to expect indigo buntings in Oklahoma

Indigo Buntings are summer residents in Oklahoma, 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 in the forested east, semi-arid in the western plains and Panhandle.

Nesting in Oklahoma

Across Oklahoma, 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.

Hot summers with strong winds; water is especially valuable in the west.

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

Native Oklahoma plants that attract indigo buntings

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

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

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

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

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.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Feeding indigo buntings through the Oklahoma year

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

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

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

When do indigo buntings nest in Oklahoma?

Nesting in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?

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

Other backyard birds in Oklahoma

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird 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-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Pine Siskin Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Black-crested Titmouse Black-chinned Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Ladder-backed Woodpecker Curve-billed Thrasher Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Bullock's Oriole 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.