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Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find Bird Groups

Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea

In Massachusetts, the nearly ubiquitous Indigo Bunting is completely dependent upon early successional habitat for breeding, which may account for its decreasing abundance in many areas across its broad geographical range. This species demands close monitoring in Massachusetts to ensure a local decline does not go unnoticed.
Conservation Status
No Action: Likely Increase

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.51
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.51
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.01
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
4.60
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
579
Atlas II Blocks
786
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
59
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
75
Percent change
119

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
0.1%
P-value
not significant
Number of routes
26
Recent trend 2000-2010
2.6%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1963-1979)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1979-2008)
0
Significantly different than zero

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Shrubland

Wintering

Does not winter in Massachusetts

Climate Suitability Current and 2050