Indigo Bunting question.........

16 years ago

What's the best food for them? I'd love to have them back in my yard again someday. I'd freak if I ever saw a Painted Bunting! :)

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Comments (16)

donnalovesblue
16 years ago
A few of them arrived in my yard recently, as they do every year. Actually, I heard them before I spotted them. They do come to the feeders, but mostly foraging on the ground under the feeders. I have no idea what they eat, but my feeders are filled with a combination of BOSS, sunflower chips, and a fruit and nut blend. I don't use the wild birdseed mix. They are beautiful birds but they don't stay around at my place very long.

Donna
rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
One person on this forum had success luring in Buntings with millet
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birding_nut
16 years ago
From what I understand, the preferred foods of Indigo Buntings at feeders are thistle (Nyger) and millet (white-proso).

BN
builder24car
Original Author
16 years ago
Many, many thanks ya'll, I appreciate it! :)

*goes to look for some millet...........*
grandmachris
16 years ago
We don't feed birds, just plant for them and refrain from
cutting down native things they like.

We have indigo buntings along an old fence row between our
lane and a former corn field that is rapidly successioning. We mow enough to keep down the tree sprouts
but leave the brambles and ironweed, goldenrod, etc. I forget to look for them and then as I'm driving out that incredible blue flash reaches my eye.

Chris
lizzieshome
16 years ago
We had a painted bunting today at our feeder(east texas). it is the first one I have ever seen outside of a picture! It was gorgeous!
gymell
16 years ago
I've also heard that millet and thistle attract them. I had them in my yard briefly last year too. I've planted a bunch of native plants and hoping that will keep them around. Got one on the feedercam last summer (look at the top right.)
scott_thomasville_ga
16 years ago
I am new to this birding stuff, but I will add my two bits. For the first time I had one show up in my yard about two weeks ago. Saw him on the feeder a few days after that. I have a hopper feeder with pretty much everything thrown in the mix. Fruits, nuts, berries, thistle, BOSS, all thrown in with the stuff that usually comes in the generic wild bird mix stuff. He was hanging out there the first two times I saw him, but since then all his time has been on the tray below the BOSS tube feeders. I would venture to guess the guy hanging around my yard prefers BOSS on a elevated tray.

Scott
builder24car
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for that pic gymell, I love it. Very nice feeding station! I'd love something like that, but the wife would kick my arse if I did that. *sigh*
ladywingr
16 years ago
They are eating whatever has fallen to the ground from my mixed seed feeders today. What they seem to enjoy even more than feed here is a nice clean, shallow birdbath. That has been the biggest draw for the ones migrating through our area of Florida.
ladywingr
16 years ago
Sorry for the poor quality - I took the pictures through a screened window.

Waiting on a turn in the bath

{{!gwi}}

My turn!!

{{!gwi}}
poconomare
16 years ago
We have Indigo Buntings nest here each Spring. The only feeder they will eat from is the one filled with millet. We believe that it is their favorite food. Good luck!!! They are one of our favorite birds.
lilacs
16 years ago
We get them every year and we feed wild bird seed and they eat from it. I love their color!
builder24car
Original Author
16 years ago
I keep hoping and hoping and hoping.................
abbybirds
16 years ago
I had one yesterday that was eating spilled thistle off of our picnic table. And then eating our grapes?! I don't think that's common though. (; good luck!
scoutsadie
16 years ago
Oh my!! I've never seen one of these, but I swear I'd cry with joy seeing a bunch of blues sitting on a fence like that! So beautiful. Thanks for sharing!