We have some finch feeders on a pole about 6 ft. from our dining room window. We love watching the smaller birds come and go. This morning, shortly after the rain quit, my wife uttered a gasp and called me quickly to the window. On one of the perches was a brilliant blue bird - almost solid blue, with a little bit of black on the leading edges of its wings and the lower 2/3 of its tail. It's slightly larger than a goldfinch, primarily because it has a longer tail.

We consulted our Audubon guide and narrowed it down to one bird (The Mountain Bluebird) pretty quickly.....or so we thought until we found out that it's a native of the Pacific Northwest! :yikes: On the same page as the Mountain Bluebird, there were two birds (Indigo Bunting and Eastern Bluebird) that looked similar to it, but not nearly enough to be examples of the bird we saw this morning.

Naturally, the batteries are dead in my camera...:ohwell:

We have some finch feeders on a pole about 6 ft. from our dining room window. We love watching the smaller birds come and go. This morning, shortly after the rain quit, my wife uttered a gasp and called me quickly to the window. On one of the perches was a brilliant blue bird - almost solid blue, with a little bit of black on the leading edges of its wings and the lower 2/3 of its tail. It's slightly larger than a goldfinch, primarily because it has a longer tail.

We consulted our Audubon guide and narrowed it down to one bird (The Mountain Bluebird) pretty quickly.....or so we thought until we found out that it's a native of the Pacific Northwest! :yikes: On the same page as the Mountain Bluebird, there were two birds (Indigo Bunting and Eastern Bluebird) that looked similar to it, but not nearly enough to be examples of the bird we saw this morning.

Naturally, the batteries are dead in my camera...:ohwell:
I bet it is an Indigo Bunting, was his blue almost an off shade of aqua? They come up from florida and he will arrive first to make a home for a female. I had them last summer. They are awesome to watch.

We had one in one of our feeders yesterday afternoon, really a pretty blue.

Is this it??

I have the Indigo Buntings at my feeder.

The purple martin is Calvert County's official bird. It has dark purplish blue feathers. Could that be your bird?

The purple martin is Calvert County's official bird. It has dark purplish blue feathers. Could that be your bird?
Not likely....

Pretty bird! :pollywantacracker:

Thanks for your help, folks!! Indigo Bunting it is!! We now have at least 3 in the yard. My neighbor is going to make a couple of birdhouses (sounds like he needs to make 3) and he'll install them on trees in his yard and mine.

Is this it??
Sure is, Mike!

I had one last week and thought I was losing it! So should I put out a birdhouse for him, or will he make his own nest? I want to keep him around.

I had one last week and thought I was losing it! So should I put out a birdhouse for him, or will he make his own nest? I want to keep him around.
My neighbor says he needs a birdhouse with a 1" hole - just big enough for the little bird, no predators.

I have a huge "bird condo" something has enlarged the holes. Looks like they were chewed or something.

I have a huge "bird condo" something has enlarged the holes. Looks like they were chewed or something.
Squirrels, maybe?

Very pretty! I've seen a couple of the indigo buntings in the area but none on my property. :frown:

I did have a pair of summer tanagers nesting around my house last year. Very scarce, but beautiful birds. :yay:

Nah.. sounds to me like its a crow, yea its deff a crow from the way you describe it.

Do you know what habitat they are attracted to?

I would love to have some different birds visit my feeders - I have the tufted titmouses, a couple cardinals, lots of chickadees and the occasional Blue Jay.

My house is surrounded by woodlands. Maybe this isn't their preferred area?

I have sunflower seeds and suet feeders as food outside for them. Should I offer something different?

Do you know what habitat they are attracted to?

I would love to have some different birds visit my feeders - I have the tufted titmouses, a couple cardinals, lots of chickadees and the occasional Blue Jay.

My house is surrounded by woodlands. Maybe this isn't their preferred area?

I have sunflower seeds and suet feeders as food outside for them. Should I offer something different?
Try some thistle and some regular small seed. We get wood peckers, finches, blue birds, doves, chickadees and a few others. Oh, and my favorite, the goldfinch.

Try some thistle and some regular small seed. We get wood peckers, finches, blue birds, doves, chickadees and a few others. Oh, and my favorite, the goldfinch.

I should have included the goldfinches in my previous listing. We have many, many of those (especially in the spring). I will have to try some thistle seeds and see what else I can attract.

When you say, "small seed," are you referring to the generic blend that you find in the grocery stores (millet, I think it's called?) or something else?

I should have included the goldfinches in my previous listing. We have many, many of those (especially in the spring). I will have to try some thistle seeds and see what else I can attract.

When you say, "small seed," are you referring to the generic blend that you find in the grocery stores (millet, I think it's called?) or something else?

to attract more birds

Do you know what habitat they are attracted to?

I would love to have some different birds visit my feeders - I have the tufted titmouses, a couple cardinals, lots of chickadees and the occasional Blue Jay.

My house is surrounded by woodlands. Maybe this isn't their preferred area?

I have sunflower seeds and suet feeders as food outside for them. Should I offer something different?
Stick w/Black Oil Sunflower seed-other seed mixes end up being "seed soup". Other than Thistle for Finches, that's all I use and I have birds of every local species showing up. Good luck!
Wait till right before Spring for putting up birdhouses-they don't use them in the winter.

Stick w/Black Oil Sunflower seed-other seed mixes end up being "seed soup". Other than Thistle for Finches, that's all I use and I have birds of every local species showing up. Good luck!
Wait till right before Spring for putting up birdhouses-they don't use them in the winter.

Thanks for your help! I'll just keep my fingers crossed that I'll see one of those elusive "bluebirds" one day...I had my first hummingbirds this past summer so I'm not giving up hope yet!