Lazuli Buntings are appropriately named after the blue gemstone lapis lazuli. I think it’s a perfect name for such a spectacularly plumaged bird.
I photographed these buntings on June 4, 2010 during a camping trip to Utah’s San Rafael Swell. “The Swell” as many of us call it is huge, remote and beautiful so I love it. This image shows just a tiny portion of The Swell where the San Rafael River meanders through a riparian valley carved into those spectacular sedimentary rocks. That’s the type of habitat Lazuli Buntings love and in early summer 8 years ago they were abundant in the campground where we stayed.
- A note to botanists and western history buffs: The greenest plant we see at lower left is ephedra (Ephedra nevadensis), also called Mormon Tea or Brigham Tea.. It’s said that the ever-thrifty Brigham Young encouraged use of this substitute for tea rather than the more expensive Asian import among early Mormon pioneers. Just for the fun of it I’ve tasted it several times on various camping trips. With sugar added it isn’t bad but without sugar I think it’s pretty vile stuff.
Ok, back to the Lazuli Buntings of The Swell.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 200, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Lazuli Buntings are the western counterpart to the very closely related Indigo Bunting common in the eastern U.S. I spent several wonderful mornings photographing mostly males singing on territory within the deserted campground. Some of the perches were a little scraggly-looking but the beauty of the bird helped to compensate for that.
After two years of age each individual male sings its own specific song, composed of a series of different syllables that no other male strings together in the same way. Since that bird’s song is often unique to that individual male some researchers refer to it as an “acoustic barcode”.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I’m a little hesitant to include this photo because I’ve posted it before but its my favorite Lazuli Bunting image of all time so I couldn’t resist. I found this male perched on new greasewood growth within the campground which was a refreshing alternative to the dead, scraggly perches they usually seemed to prefer.
One of the physical attributes I love about the species is their dramatically bicolored bill. The upper mandible of both sexes is black while the lower mandible is a very light blue – often appearing almost white. I can’t think of any bird I photograph that has this much color contrast in their bicolored bill.
Some populations of Lazuli Buntings are in severe decline, due at least in part to nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Parasitized Lazuli Bunting nests rarely fledge any of their own young.
Ron
All I can say is wow!!
The rock formation in the lower right looks like a horse….
PS i used to come up behind Brian when he was waiting to cross the street and pinch and fondle his butt. This was very upsetting to the “suits” with him, but Brian just leered and tried to guess if it was me or one of my sisters. I called it “dirty braille”…as taight to the three of us by….Brian!!!!
Man! What a cool looking bird! I just looked it up and they are around here (Sierras) but I’ve never seen one. Can’t wait, and hope to be armed with my camera when I do. Looks like something you’d buy in an exotic pet store!
“Looks like something you’d buy in an exotic pet store”
That’s just about what I thought the first time I saw one, Dave.
I am very late again. I hate, loathe and despise computers. And resent my reliance on the perverse beasts. It has taken me nearly three hours to get my Ron fix for the day this morning.
LOVE the Swell. And mourn that my father cannot see it.
Birds (and fish) frequently rock the most incredible colours don’t they? Colours that no fashionista would dare put in close proximity.
“Perverse beasts” is spot on, EC. And I think Patty would agree with you (us).
Oh. How. BEAUTIFUL! And I never knew they sang their own individual songs! WOW! That’s just too cool AND I’m good for learning something new every day! YAY! YIPPEE!
It’s such a joy to visit here every day! Seriously, thank you!
The previously posted image is new to me, so no worries. And it’s a stunner!
Thanks very much, Laura.
Like Dick Harlow, the Lazuli Bunting brought back a memory that reminded me of some photos I took in 2011 in eastern Washington. I was there to look at plants but someone pointed to this bird, probably about 500 ft. away. I took a photo of it with my 180mm lens (you can imagine how small the bird is in that photo), and with your photos to compare I can ID it. Thank you.
Good! I’m delighted it was helpful to you in that way, Lyle.
I’ve never seen the lazuli bunting but hope to before I shuck off this mortal coil. In re Mormon tea aka Ephedra funerea, the plant is one source for ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and some ephedra alkaloids that are banned, controversial, misused by athletes, etc.
The tea is a mild but still questionable source of compounds that increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels, expand bronchia, increase body heat. At elevations about 8,000 feet it can cause serious harm, including embolism and stroke.
(I trained in mountain medicine in a University of California San Francisco course designed for people serving as first aid and paramedics on high altitude treks.)
Martha, In the early days of my teaching career I used to bring ephedra back from my camping trips and brew it up in my Utah Wildlife classes so the kids could taste it if they chose to do so. I used to teach them about some of the physiological effects ephedra can have so I never let them have more than a taste. These days it’s probably something I wouldn’t do at all…
I have no problem with your repeat posts. It is like looking thru a photo album and just as enjoyable as the first viewing. I know I can go back and look at the photo listed here but This is much easier and very enjoyable. I have seen one of these at my feeder in Salt Lake once about 3 years ago. Beautiful bird.
Betty, It’s my understanding that there are many Lazuli Buntings along the east bench of the Wasatch Front.
A beautiful pair of images…between them both, we can see what they really look like (If I was that beautiful, I’d sing, too!)….
Ahhh, I’ll bet you’re beautiful too, Patty! 🙂
I may look beautiful to our insurance agaent, Brian, who married one of my childhood friends. I first met Brian at their reception, when I caught his German Shepard, Fax, drinking his champage and said, “Sir, your dog is drinking your champagne!” . I was concerned because Fax was a seeing eye dog. Brian is blind.
No other photos do this bird justice! Gorgeous. Why do you suppose the bill is so dramatically two-toned? Of course, it could be just a random coloring linked to some other change, but . . . maybe it makes the bill more noticeable to young in the nest during feeding? I noticed what seems to be a light colored rim on the upper beak, in that first photo.
I’m not sure why they have bicolored bills, Sallie. A fair number of other species do too but I know of none where the color contrast is so dramatic is it is in Lazuli Buntings.
Truly gorgeous. 😀
Thanks, Arwen.
The San Rafael Swell is gorgeous – my kind of country. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Lazuli Bunting, but did have an Indigo Bunting visit my yard in Virginia one time – probably the most beautiful coloring on a bird that I’ve ever seen. About Ephedra: my understanding is that the Mormons drank tea made from it because it was a way to get the same stimulation as caffeine, but without partaking of a prohibited substance.
That wouldn’t surprise me about the early Mormons, Susan (my ancestors were Mormon pioneers). The Mormon Church is offically opposed to all forms of gambling and that includes lotteries. Because “the church” largely controls politics in Utah gambling and lotteries are illegal here. The result? Droves of Mormons flock to Wendover, Nevada for the gambling and to Preston or Malad, Idaho to buy lottery tickets (both towns are right on the border with Utah).
Beautiful shots Ron. You know how one image can bring back a flood of recollections? That is what happened this AM with your images of the Lazuli. I can picture exactly where we were when I got my life Lazuli Bunting, an absolutely beautiful bird. Thank you for the memories!!
Curious, Dick – where were you when you saw your first Lazuli? And when did it happen?
The first one we saw was on the road driving slowly on a curvy road in southern Montana on our way to Yellowstone National Park. I had to pull over and get out with my bins and enjoyed this singing male for as long as my wife and two younguns would allow! The second was in Wyoming. This was a summer camping trip to the west birding and natural history the whole way. Including a backpacking trip in Glacier to see the snowfield and a glacier, plus the redwoods, pacific coast, etc., and came back through Canada. 1971
My daughter corrected me, it was 1972.
Sounds like it was a great trip, Dick
What a great looking bird Ron. I can understand why you would post this image on more than one occasion. To the best of my recollection I have never seen one, but recalling things these days is getting more difficult, if I recall. Love the image Ron. Thanks for that one!
Ha, I understand that memory thing, Frank!
Three beautiful photos! The first one really makes me want to visit San Rafael Swell!
It’s a wonderful area, David – worth the visit for sure.
Gorgeous Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
WOW, WOW, WOW, Ron!!!! This bird is absolutely spectacular!! Don’t apologize – you can post it as often as you feel the urge to do so!! I’ve been lucky to see & photograph the Painted Bunting in the wild & Indigo Buntings (which I haven’t seen) & now I’d LOVE to see this sweet bird in the wild. We are going to be making another trip out west to visit more National Parks in 2019 but haven’t decided where yet. We visited The Grand Canyon, Zion & Death Valley in late November, 2017 & really got the urge to see more – your San Rafael Swell is just as spectacular as the Lazuli Bunting!! Sure looks different than my very flat Florida – LOL!!
I’ve never seen either the Painted or the Indigo Bunting, Jo Ann. Perhaps some day…
Spectacular photos, Ron! I hope you get to photograph an Indigo Bunting someday soon!
I hope I do too, Diane. Thanks.
A spectacular bird! I can see why that photo is a favorite…pure perfection. It may be the counterpart to our Indigo Bunting, which is beautiful in it’s own right, but does not compare in the beauty of the colors your bird has.
Kathy, I prefer the colors of the Lazuli over those of the Indigo too but that may not be fair because I’ve never even seen an Indigo Bunting.
Beautiful bird and magnificent capture! Well done!
Thank you, Daniel.
Beautiful bird, Ron! 🙂 Don’t believe I’ve ever seen one……. At a quick glance one would think it was a blue bird. The 2-tone bill is different for sure. Always interesting how birds can cling to those tiny, jumbled twigs. Intense “blue” in birds certainly isn’t common in our part of the west. The “Swell” is certainly rugged and beautiful also. The cowbirds certainly are a pain – too bad the buntings can’t recognize the “strange” egg as some birds can. The 2nd photo certainly is a “keeper” for all time! 😉
I don’t remember ever seeing them in Montana either, Judy – though that state is certainly within their range.