Lazuli Bunting
Supersp #49
Passerina amoena
STANFORD LOCATIONS:

Fairly rare and irregular migrant and rare summer resident, occurring primarily in scrubby habitats near the Dish. Absent as a breeder in some years, but in years when this species is common and widespread throughout the Peninsula, a few pairs are present. Migrants probably occur occasionally in weedy or brushy habitats elsewhere on campus.
  
Nest
Location
Nest
Type
Eggs
Mating System
Dev.
Parental Care
Primary &
2ndary Diet
Foraging
Strategy
F
I: 12 DAYS
ALTRICIAL
TANGLE
1.5 feet - 4 feet
(To 10 feet)
F
4(3-5)
MONOG
(POLYGYN)
F: 10-12 DAYS
F-M
SEEDS
FOLIAGE
GLEAN
BREEDING: Arid brushy canyons, riparian thickets, chaparral, open woodland. 2, occ 3 broods.
DISPLAYS: Courtship: male flutters on ground with extended trembling wings.
NEST: Coarsely woven of dried grass, forbs, lined with fine grass, hair.
EGGS: Pale bluish-white, unmarked. 0.8" (19 mm).
DIET: Insects; seeds.
CONSERVATION: Winters s to s Mexico, absent from e Mexico. Uncommon cowbird host. Increased abundance this century with creation of early successional stages following logging, and growth of riparian thickets formed by agricultural irrigation systems in arid regions. However, seems to have disappeared from former areas of range in face of encroaching suburbanization.
NOTES: Forms interspecific territories with Indigo Buntings; male song repertoires often contain elements typical of both species. Occ mixed pairs result in hybrids. Female aggressively defends territory against other females. Commonly flocks and moves to higher elevations after breeding. Associates with Chipping Sparrows and other finches during migration.
ESSAYS: Great Plains Hybrids; Interspecific Territoriality; Vocal Development.
REFERENCES: Emlen et al., 1975; Thompson 1976.

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Except for Stanford Locations, the material in this species treatment is taken, with permission, from The Birder's Handbook (Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin, & Darryl Wheye, Simon & Schuster, NY. 1988).