Any summer that one attracts the male indigo bunting to the hanging feeder’s black oil sunflower seeds is a success. It has migrated back here from Central and South America, a few days ahead of the female, and his iridescent, deep sapphire blue-coloring plumage is always stunning to note each summer for the first time.

Those who know this bird well, also reflect that this deep blue changes to nearly black in the shade. This is because there is no blue pigment in the bunting’s feathers at all; it is just light refraction.

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