Quick Answer
No, the Indigo Bunting is not part of the finch family. The Indigo Bunting belongs to the family Cardinalidae, also known as cardinals and grosbeaks, while finches belong to the family Fringillidae.
What is an Indigo Bunting?
The Indigo Bunting, scientific name Passerina cyanea, is a small seed-eating bird native to North America. Some key facts about the Indigo Bunting:
- Size: 4.7-5.1 inches long with a wingspan of 7.5-9.1 inches
- Coloring: Vibrant blue in the breeding male, brown in the female and winter male
- Habitat: Open woods, forest edges, farmlands, parks, gardens
- Diet: Seeds, grains, berries, insects
- Range: Summers across eastern and central U.S. and southern Canada, winters in southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Status: Least Concern conservation status
The male Indigo Bunting has brilliant, shimmering blue feathers during the breeding season. This is how the bird gets its name, as its color resembles indigo dye. The plumage appears black, but when sunlight hits it, it shines bright blue. Outside of the breeding season, the male’s feathers turn a greenish-brown color similar to the female.
The Indigo Bunting has a warbling song and makes sharp chip notes. It alternates perching with bursts of flight while foraging for seeds and insects in open habitats.
What is the finch family?
Finches belong to the bird family Fringillidae in the passerine order. They are seed-eating songbirds found throughout the world in a variety of habitats. There are over 100 species of finch divided into several groups:
- True finches – widespread species like the House Finch and Purple Finch
- Hawfinches – stocky birds with massive bills like the Coccothraustes
- Crossbills – finches with crossed mandibles like the Red Crossbill
- Grosbeaks – chunky, medium-beaked finches like the Evening Grosbeak
- Siskins and goldfinches – small, lively species like the American Goldfinch
Some characteristics that unite finches:
- Cone-shaped strong bills for cracking seeds
- Herbivorous or granivorous diets
- Breeding songs and drab female plumages
- Highly social behavior
- Small bodies with medium-sized heads and beaks
There are no North American finches that are vivid blue like the male Indigo Bunting. The majority have brown, grey or greenish plumages. This is one way to distinguish between an Indigo Bunting and a finch.
Cardinals and Grosbeaks
While not a finch, the Indigo Bunting does belong to the Cardinalidae family of robust, seed-eating birds. Cardinals and grosbeaks are types of New World passerines found in North and South America.
Some well-known Cardinalidae species include:
- Northern Cardinal – bright red male and female
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak – black, white and rose red plumage
- Blue Grosbeak – mostly blue plumage
- Dickcissel – yellow breast and brown streaked body
Cardinals, grosbeaks and other family members have conical bills suited for cracking seeds. They are common birds of forests, shrublands and gardens throughout the Americas. Many species move south for the winter.
Differences Between Indigo Buntings and Finches
While they occupy some of the same habitats, there are several key differences between Indigo Buntings and true finches:
Appearance
Indigo Bunting | Finches |
---|---|
Small plump body | Petite bodies |
Stubby triangular bill | Pointed conical bills |
Blue plumage in males | Mostly brown, grey or rosy plumages |
Sexual dimorphism | Males and females often look similar |
Behavior
Indigo Bunting | Finches |
---|---|
Alternate perching and flying while foraging | Mostly forage on the ground or perched |
Nest low in shrubs | Nest high in trees |
Solitary nesting | Colonial nesters |
Males have singing territorial displays | Form large mixed flocks outside breeding season |
Taxonomy
Indigo Bunting | Finches |
---|---|
Order: Passeriformes | Order: Passeriformes |
Family: Cardinalidae | Family: Fringillidae |
Closest relatives are grosbeaks and cardinals | Closest relatives are Old World sparrows, weavers and canaries |
Conclusion
While the Indigo Bunting and finches share some qualities like being small passerines who consume seeds and insects, they belong to entirely different families. The Indigo Bunting is placed in Cardinalidae along with other brightly colored American songbirds like grosbeaks and cardinals. Finches belong to the Fringillidae family and are largely of Eurasian origin. So the answer is no, the beautiful Indigo Bunting is not considered a true finch. Paying attention to characteristics like beak shape, social behavior and taxonomy is the best way to tell them apart.