Juvenile Lazuli Bunting Images

Young Lazuli Bunting in low light conditions – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/320, ISO 1600, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday I had fun taking juvenile Lazuli Bunting images as several of these young birds rested and moved around eating grass seeds for breakfast. I took my first young bunting photo before the sun came over the tops of the mountains. I liked the overall soft feeling that this image conveys.

Juvenile Lazuli Bunting perched on a thin twig – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When the sun lit up the area where I was parked I could see about six of the juvenile Lazuli Buntings moving in the willows and grasses. I focused on the young buntings that were out in the open to photograph.

Juvenile Lazuli Bunting in early morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This particular juvenile Bunting caught my eye because of the setting and the fact that it was relatively close to me.

Young Lazuli Bunting feeding on grass seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I am glad I focused on it because it grasped a grass seed head that was slightly out of my viewfinder to pluck seeds to eat.

Juvenile Lazuli Bunting grasping grass seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And the young bunting nearly lost its balance trying to get more grass seeds. This pose made me smile.

Young Lazuli Bunting looking at grass seed heads – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

These young Lazuli Buntings haven’t been on their own for very long and it was interesting to watch them as they figured out how to get food to sustain themselves.

Juvenile Lazuli Bunting feeding on grass seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Watching the juvenile buntings as they foraged for grass seeds at the base of a willow thicket was fun. Having them in my viewfinder in good light was even better.

Young Lazuli Bunting eating grass seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I was delighted when this young bunting almost stood on its tip toes to get seeds from the grass. In this photo it is easy to see the fleshy, yellow-orange gape that identifies this as a young bird.

Immature Lazuli Bunting eating grass seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Although these young buntings aren’t as colorful as the males of this species I love their subtle beauty. I also enjoyed hearing the young buntings call softly as they moved around in the willows and grasses.

Lazuli Bunting juvenile on an old willow branch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When some cattle moved into the area it seemed to alarm the young buntings enough to fly up away from the grasses to get a look at what was making all the noise. That allowed me to take this final image of a juvenile bunting out in the open.

Immature Lazuli Bunting in mid morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This final immature Lazuli Bunting photo is from last Friday which was taken in the same area. I wanted to include it this morning because I loved the light and the setting.

I am truly enjoying seeing, hearing and photographing all of the Lazuli Buntings I have been finding high in the Wasatch Mountains.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Lazuli Bunting photos plus facts and information about this species.