Alphabe-Thursday --Rainbow Summer School

This week is a study in INDIGO, check out all of the lovelies at Jenny Matlock's place

The INDIGO Bunting

© Charles L. Jordan / CLO

A brilliantly blue bird of old fields and roadsides, the Indigo Bunting prefers abandoned land to urban areas, intensely farmed areas, or deep forests. Migratory Birds from Canada to northern Florida.

Appearance

Finchlike

Adult Description

• Small songbird.
• Short, thick bill.
• Male brilliant dark blue all over.
• Female dull brown.

 I have only seen this beautiful bird  in my own wooded haven, a handful of times in the 25 years we've lived here. Wish I had the honor to see them more often, Another Beautiful creature of God.

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Blue all over, deepest on head. Black in front of eyes. Occasionally with some brown on back, wing, breast, or under tail, or whitish on belly. Wing feathers dark, edged in blue. Upper bill blackish, lower mandible blue-gray.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Brown, with some blue edges to scattered feathers; some birds may be more blue than brown. Often whitish on lower belly and under tail. Blackish in front of eyes. Bill whitish to blue-gray. Gape yellowish.

 

 

 

Female Description

All brown. Unstreaked or with indistinct streaks on chest. Faint buff wingbars. May have some blue-tinged feathers on wing, tail, or rump. Upper bill brown to blackish, lower mandible pale.

Immature Description

Similar to adult female, with brighter buff wingbars. First-year male shows variable amount of blue and brown, may have distinct wingbars.

 

I think as youngsters we think it is funny that "Old" or "Older" people watch birds. Personally I get it now, I got it a few years back actually.  The Bird is a tangible vision of God's hand in the world. Yes there are many other things that to many show God's hands...but many are explained away by science.  No one really knows how a bird flies, really. Sure we fly now in planes, but have you ever really thought about it?  how does something so large and heavy manage to stay in the air?

 

Anyway, back to birds, not only do they fly, they return time and again to the homes they love during different times of the year, they know how to build a cozy home, fight off predators, raise a family, say good bye to them, deal with loss when a baby falls from a nest. Most mate for life. They do all of these things with the tiniest of brains.  They are still a mystery, Take the humming bird, wings that can move up to 60 mph. unbelievable. Then, THEN  is all the many kinds and beauty, and majesty of them in full color and Plumage!  Like the Pea Cock, and the male Cardinal, Turkey, Pheasant, and yes; The INDIGO Bunting!

Please take time in your life to smell the flowers (that is another story)  and Enjoy the simple joy of watching birds, even if it is for only 5 minutes. It will make you feel better, it will inspire you, lift you up, and slow you down.  Thanks for visiting, I hope my post today, lifted you.

Susan