05/25/2026
I was moving slowly through the shimmering sagebrush on a hot, sunny day, looking for Lazuli Buntings when I started hearing their calls before I saw them. Soon they came into view—small flashes of blue tucked into the brush, singing their hearts out from the tops of the bushes.
Lazuli Buntings arrive each spring after migrating from Mexico, returning to breed across western Canada and the western United States. In summer, they’re often found in open areas with sagebrush and shrubs, where the males stand out with bright blue plumage and sing constantly from exposed perches.