Indigo Buntings in Vermont
When indigo buntings are present in Vermont, when they nest, which native Vermont plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.
- Status in Vermont
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–August
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
When to expect indigo buntings in Vermont
Indigo Buntings are summer residents in Vermont, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars, grasshoppers and beetles.
Humid continental, with the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.
Nesting in Vermont
Across Vermont, indigo buntings typically nest from June–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.
Short, mild summers.
- Indigo Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, white oak, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Vermont plants that attract indigo buntings
Of the regional native plants we track for Vermont, these 8 provide food or cover indigo buntings use:
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Feeding indigo buntings through the Vermont year
Migrates at night by the stars; males sing from utility lines along brushy edges all summer.
- Best foods: Nyjer, Millet, Hulled sunflower.
- In Vermont'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 Vermont year-round?
No. Indigo Buntings are summer breeders in Vermont and leave for the winter.
When do indigo buntings nest in Vermont?
Nesting in Vermont typically runs June–August, with 1–3 per season. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract indigo buntings in Vermont?
Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, Wild bergamot are native plants in Vermont that provide food or cover for indigo buntings.
Indigo Buntings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Vermont
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 — Vermont
- 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.