Male Lazuli Bunting in July – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Over the past week I have had the pleasure of photographing male Lazuli Buntings high in the Wasatch Mountains in several different settings. The male buntings with their sky blue upperparts and heads, white bellies, and cinnamon colored breasts are a joy to see and they remind me of days when I used to take my young sons with me to look for Indigo Buntings back East. We called it “bunting hunting” and it was so much fun to point the buntings out to my sons and to have them point them out to me.
Indigo and Lazuli Buntings are closely related and will hybridize where their ranges overlap.
Lazuli Bunting male up close – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday my first opportunity to photograph Lazuli Buntings happened when this male popped into view on some dead branches near a stand of willows by a creek. Even though the setting is cluttered I like how well this brightly colored male bunting stands out.
Male Lazuli Bunting perched in front of Black Twinberry Honeysuckle – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The second male Lazuli I photographed yesterday morning showed up as he perched in front of a clump of Black Twinberry Honeysuckles. The berries of the honeysuckle have been picked fairly clean by the Gray Catbirds and Cedar Waxwings that I have seen frequently in the area but there may have been a few left behind that this bunting was searching for.
Lazuli Bunting male perched in tall grasses – Nikon D500, f9, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Later in the morning I spotted a “mural” of buntings feeding on grass seeds next to a creek. In this one small area I would say there was well over a dozen males and females chowing down on the seeds. The Lazuli Buntings were farther away from me than I would have liked but I had fun photographing them as they bounced around on the grass stems in a light breeze.
Adult male Lazuli Bunting perched in a serviceberry – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last week I photographed another male Lazuli Bunting I found perched on top of a serviceberry in the mountains. The serviceberries will be ripening very soon now at which time the buntings will have a juicy feast. I plan on being up there to photograph them.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Lazuli Bunting photos plus facts and information about this species.
I will not forget my first encounter with a Lazuli. It was pouring out its song over our heads as we picnicked in the shade next to a roaring stream near Abiquiu, New Mexico. I wasn’t doing photography then, but there is no substitute for experiencing the “real thing.”
Absolutely beautiful shots! Rich in colors and detail; every pic is a showstopper. Thanks Mia.
Such wonderful color and captured in sharp detail. Your site is a daily pleasure.
“Bunting hunting” — love it! 🙂 The bokeh in your last shot really makes the Lazuli Bunting stand out! I also like the bird’s pose and your shooting angle in the 3rd shot. What a wonderful balm for these stressful times.
I am (again) with Marty on the bunting hunting. I was taken with the ‘mural’ of these beauties too. I have a big fondness for collective nouns and this is new to me.
Huge thanks. Again.
Beautiful images Mia, fortunate to have seen this bird once in AZ.
Lovely colours and great shots
Thanks for sharing
Once again, thanks for brightening my day with these beautiful images.
Pretty birds, great photos
Lovely. I have never seen these either!
What a beautiful bird and photographs.
So Beautiful. I have never seen this bird before. Such a treat.