Passerina amoena

Utah backyard feeders have been brightened in recent days with the arrival of the lazuli bunting. This neotropical migrant moves from its Mexican winter range into its breeding territory that extends from the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest down into Southern California.

It has a beautiful turquoise blue head with a cinnamon breast bordered by a white belly. The wings show white wing-bars. Females are brown with buff-colored wing-bars and a cinnamon wash on the breast.

The lazuli is a sparrow-size bunting that is attracted to proso millet in backyard feeders. It will occupy our backyards for a few weeks, as it waits for the snowfields to recede from the foothills and mountain canyons where it will nest and spend summer.

Lazulis prefer brushy habitat near water, especially in the gambel oak along the foothills and benches. Logging and agricultural areas expanded its range, but current development in the foothills and benches is reducing its habitat.

Females incubate three to five eggs for 12 days. Altricial, or newly hatched, young fledge within 12 days and are fed by both parents.

Breeding pairs will gather in mixed foraging flocks of sparrows and buntings at the end of summer. They forage low in trees and brush and on the ground, preferring seeds and insects.

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* BILL FENIMORE is owner of the Layton Wild Bird Center (www.wildbird.com/layton).