Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
 
Status in the Checklist Area - Uncommon to Fairly Common*
     
 
Information

Lazuli Bunting males are one of our more brightly coloured birds. Over the last eight or so years, they have become more common especially in Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope. They are also fairly common in the northern part of the checklist area around Boston Bar and North Bend. Males will often sing from prominent perches such as telephone wires. Lazuli Buntings are a migratory species that are usually gone from our area by September. They winter as far south as Mexico. Seeds and insects are their primary food source.

Earliest record: May 07, 2013 (Jesperson Dyke, Chilliwack)
Latest record: September 19, 2009 (Island 22 Park)

Similar species:
Males are quite distinctive. Bluebirds are the only other species of similar colour but are larger. Females and juveniles are difficult to tell from the Indigo Bunting, which is an accidental species in our area. It may be impossible to determine if a suspected female Indigo Bunting is not hybridized with a Lazuli Bunting. Pure male Indigo Buntings lack wingbars, white bellies and rusty breasts. (see photos below).

Best Viewing Locations:
In Chilliwack, Island 22 Regional Park, Jesperson Dyke and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve are all good sites to look for this species. In Hope, Hope Airport and North Bend located in the northern section of the checklist area is also very reliable.

Sources:
Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, (1988)

     
Noteworthy Data
 
Date
Location
Source(s)
Comments
July 05, 2013 Columbia Valley C. McDonald 2013f Three singing males. Breeding not confirmed, however.
May 31, 2013 Delair Farm, Hope. C. McDonald 2013e Fifteen individuals. Current highest count for checklist area.
May 07, 2013 Jesperson Dyke, Chilliwack C. McDonald 2013d Male singing. Earliest record. Photographed.
June 04, 2012 Island 22 Regional Park, Chilliwack G. Gadsden 2012m Five males singing at various locations in the park.
May 31, 2012 Delair Farm, Hope D. Beeke 2012e Nine individuals.
July 01, 2011 Green Ranch Road, North Bend G. Gadsden 2011j Male hybrid with Indigo Bunting. See photos.
May 13, 2011 Tuyttens Road, Agassiz K. Jones 2011c Male singing. Pair would breed in area.
September 19, 2009 Island 22 Regional Park, Chilliwack G. Gadsden 2009 One juvenile. Latest record.
May 09, 2009 Jesperson Dyke, Chilliwack C. McDonald 2009a One male.
 
Photographs
           
           
             
                   
                   
       
       
 
Audio and Video    
None available
 

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