Lazuli Bunting at The Throne

This male Lazuli Bunting was photographed at The Throne in Osoyoos, perched among the dry branches overlooking the valley. Its bright blue head and orange chest make it easy to spot during spring and summer. These buntings prefer open slopes and shrub-covered hillsides, often singing from exposed perches like this one. A fun fact: their vivid blue color isn’t from pigment, but from light scattering through microscopic feather structures. The Throne’s semi-arid landscape provides ideal nesting habitat, making it one of the best spots to observe this striking bird.