Montane Lazuli Buntings

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All

So, Nathan Pieplow pointed out that Lazuli Buntings are not as rare as one might think high up in the Rockies. A review of eBird records from Colorado bears this out. Indeed, there are more records from 10,000 to 12,000 feet than from South or North Park, where one might think this scrub-loving bird might be more common. 

Birds of North America On-line, from Cornell, states that Lazuli Buntings can be found up to 3000 meters in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains in riparian habitats with willow and aspen. The big surprise to Nick Moore and I was that the Laz we saw was in spruce-fir woods. Apparently, looking through eBird records and talking to Nathan, such is not that unusual, and some of these birds are SINGING AND APPARENTLY ON TERRITORY in coniferous woodlands. Admittedly, there may well be open areas within a hundred meters or two, but I am still stunned. And a number of records in CO are from 3500-4000 meters elevation.

In any case, bird and learn

Steven Mlodinow

Longmont, CO