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Breeding Range. (Fig. 165). Fairly common in the Pembina Hills, in the wooded deltaic sand area of western Pembina County, in wooded valleys along the Red River and its tributaries throughout the Agassiz Lake Plain, and along the Sheyenne River valley (extending upstream to north-central Eddy County); uncommon in the wooded hills and lake borders in the vicinity of Devils Lake, Stump Lake and Sweetwater Lake (in southeastern Benson County, west-central Nelson County, and west-central Ramsey County), in woodland borders of ponds and lakes in southern Richland County, in the wooded valley along the James River (between Jamestown and Grand Rapids), and along the portion of the Missouri River valley that extends downstream from Garrison Dam to a point about 10 miles below Bismarck; rare in the Turtle Mountains, in the wooded valley along the Mouse River (within McHenry, Ward, and Renville Counties), along tributaries of the Missouri River (including Beaver Creek, Heart River, Knife River, Little Knife River, and Little Missouri River), and in the Killdeer Mountains of northwestern Dunn County.

Breeding populations overlap the breeding range of the Lazuli Bunting along the Missouri River drainage system and in this area, hybrids between the two species often occur (Kroodsma 1970).

Breeding Habitat. Semiopen, mesophytic, deciduous forests that occur on slopes of prominent hills and escarpments and on well-drained floodplains of major streams. Prominent tree species in these habitats include American elm, green ash, bur oak, and box elder; in eastern North Dakota, basswood, hackberry, and hop-hornbeam are common associates.

Nesting. Probable breeding season: Late May to late August. Singing males on territory were recorded as early as May 20 [1961] and May 20 [1964] and as late as August 23 [1964] at Jamestown (RES). On August 4, 1966, two adults with two young were observed in Ransom County (P. F. Springer).

Figure 165. Breeding Range of Indigo Bunting.