Lazuli Buntings in Washington
When lazuli buntings are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Washington
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect lazuli buntings in Washington
Lazuli Buntings are summer residents in Washington, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers and caterpillars.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.
Nesting in Washington
Across Washington, lazuli buntings typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup in shrubs. Females lay 3–4 eggs, incubate for 12 days, and young leave the nest after 10–12 days.
Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.
- Lazuli Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Washington plants that attract lazuli buntings
Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 8 provide food or cover lazuli 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.
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.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding lazuli buntings through the Washington year
Brushy hillsides and streamside thickets; young males learn songs from neighbors.
- Best foods: Millet, Nyjer.
- In Washington'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 Washington year-round?
No. Lazuli Buntings are summer breeders in Washington and leave for the winter.
When do lazuli buntings nest in Washington?
Nesting in Washington typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract lazuli buntings in Washington?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for lazuli buntings.
Lazuli Buntings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Washington
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 — Washington
- 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.