The male will bring food and serenade her, only occasionally relieving the Mom of nest duty. Mom will usually feed the hatchlings and care for them until they are just about ready to fledge. Dad will vigorously defend the nest and young from invaders. Once a clutch has left the nest, the pair may split up, taking different partners and nests for the next clutch. The female indigo bunting will call but not sing.
Male songs have to do with territory, breeding, warding off invaders, and feeding.
Click here to hear their beautiful song. Indigo Buntings migrate north only with the really warm days of spring, arriving later than quite a few migrating birds. And not liking the cold weather at all, they may also be one of the first to leave for the sunny tropics further south. But during the time they are in North America, they are among the most impressive songbirds around. They usually travel in flocks at night, navigating by the stars.