Definition

Noun: 1. A small North American songbird with predominantly deep blue plumage: The term "indigo finch" refers specifically to a small, seed-eating bird native to North America, the male of which is known for its vibrant, deep blue coloring, especially during the breeding season.

Usage and Examples

• The indigo finch is a common sight at bird feeders in the eastern United States during the summer.
• We spotted a brilliant male indigo finch singing from the top of a thistle plant.
• Unlike the sparrow, the indigo finch has a much shorter, thicker beak adapted for cracking seeds.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term "indigo finch" is a common name for the species , which is more precisely and commonly known as the indigo bunting. In formal ornithological contexts, "indigo bunting" is the preferred term to avoid confusion with true finches (family Fringillidae).
• The intense blue color of the male is not due to pigment but to the microscopic structure of its feathers, which refracts light.

Variants and Related Words

• Indigo bunting (n.): The standard common name and a direct synonym for "indigo finch."
• Passerina cyanea (n.): The scientific (Latin) name for the species.
• Bunting (n.): A general term for a group of small, stocky seed-eating birds in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), to which this bird belongs.

Synonyms

• Indigo bunting
• Blue bunting (a less common regional name)

Related Phrases and Idioms

• (As) blue as an indigo bunting: A simile used to describe a very vivid, deep blue color.
  • The summer sky was as blue as an indigo bunting.

Noun

1. small deep blue North American bunting