Lazuli Buntings in Wyoming
When lazuli buntings are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Wyoming
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect lazuli buntings in Wyoming
Lazuli Buntings are summer residents in Wyoming, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers and caterpillars.
Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.
Nesting in Wyoming
Across Wyoming, 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.
Short, warm summers with cool nights.
- Lazuli Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Wyoming plants that attract lazuli buntings
Of the regional native plants we track for Wyoming, 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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Feeding lazuli buntings through the Wyoming year
Brushy hillsides and streamside thickets; young males learn songs from neighbors.
- Best foods: Millet, Nyjer.
- In Wyoming'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 Wyoming year-round?
No. Lazuli Buntings are summer breeders in Wyoming and leave for the winter.
When do lazuli buntings nest in Wyoming?
Nesting in Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
Bur oak, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for lazuli buntings.
Lazuli Buntings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wyoming
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 — Wyoming
- 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.