An indigo bunting perched on a branch, Texas, USA

© Jeff R Clow/Getty Image

Indigo bunting

In the vast tapestry of nature's wonders, few sights are as awe-inspiring as the annual odysseys undertaken by our feathered friends. Among these intrepid travellers is the indigo bunting, a tiny seed-eating songbird with plumage like the twilight sky. They travel thousands of kilometres using the stars to navigate. Typically found in North America, Central America and northern South America, these little creatures are around 11.5 - 15 centimetres long with a wingspan of between 18 - 23 centimetres. The indigo bunting's musical vocalisations, a delightful series of rapid, jumbled warbles, signal the onset of their breeding season in late April or May. During this time, male buntings establish territories and serenade potential mates with their enchanting songs. So, let's turn our gazes upward, where the pulse of life flaps with untiring wings and pledge to safeguard the flyways that are essential for ecological balance.