Lazuli Buntings in Montana
When lazuli buntings are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
When to expect lazuli buntings in Montana
Lazuli Buntings are summer residents in Montana, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers and caterpillars.
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, lazuli buntings typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cup in shrubs. Females lay 3–4 eggs, incubate for 12 days, and young leave the nest after 10–12 days.
Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
- Lazuli Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, paper birch, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Montana plants that attract lazuli buntings
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 8 provide food or cover lazuli buntings use:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Feeding lazuli buntings through the Montana year
Brushy hillsides and streamside thickets; young males learn songs from neighbors.
- Best foods: Millet, Nyjer.
- In Montana's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for lazuli buntings · Best feeder for lazuli buntings
Frequently asked
Are lazuli buntings in Montana year-round?
No. Lazuli Buntings are summer breeders in Montana and leave for the winter.
When do lazuli buntings nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract lazuli buntings in Montana?
Bur oak, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for lazuli buntings.
Lazuli Buntings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Montana
Sources
- Lazuli Bunting — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Lazuli Bunting life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Lazuli Bunting — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Montana
- 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.