Every bird image I've posted here is literally a back- (or front-) yard photo...except for a bald eagle atop the Dolphin Hotel at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista FL.
Seeing what the local birds (mostly cardinals, robins, wrens and sparrows) are up to with a decent telephoto lens and DSLR has proven to be a stimulating hobby...especially during the pandemic--I look at Canon Rumors virtually every day.
In the decade or so I've been paying attention and shooting pictures an indigo bunting has never graced our yard--until today (I think).
Not the best images...but good enough to identify an indigo bunting 'breeding male'.
Interesting to read that the indigo bunting is related to the northern cardinal (we see plenty of those).
And now, after reading our bird book a bit and learning about indigo buntings, I suspect I
have come across a female/immature male indigo bunting in past years--I just didn't know what I was looking at.
In any event, a strikingly different-looking bird in this particular corner of the state of Illinois--its blueness really stands out.
...now if only one or two of those pileated woodpeckers would stop by...