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Platte River Status: A rare and local summer resident in the western Platte River Valley. Tout (1947) considered lazuli bunting an irregular spring migrant in Lincoln County. Short (1961) observed lazuli x indigo bunting hybrids east to Silver Creek, Merrick County, and Hastings, Adams County.

Breeding Range: Apparently restricted during the nesting season to the Platte River Valley in the western one-third of the study area.

Breeding Population: The 1979-1980 population was estimated at 30 pairs. This estimate is based on the occurrence of one singing male on one census plot. Because of the presence of a considerable area of potentially suitable nesting habitat in Lincoln, Keith, Deuel and Garden counties, we believe our population estimate to be a minimum.

Habitat: Within our study area, we found lazuli bunting most readily in open forests with relatively dense understory. The mean breeding density from census plots was 0.2 pairs per km² in lowland forest. Faanes (1983a) characterized lazuli bunting habitat in western North Dakota as wooded vegetation supporting an open canopy, high shrub density, and a large number of trees in the 6 to 15 cm diameter size class. Most territorial male lazuli buntings were observed at the edge of wooded vegetation by Faanes (1983a).

Effect of Habitat Alteration: The small breeding population of lazuli bunting along the Platte River has benefited from the establishment of wooded vegetation within the river channel. Because of their apparent preference for shrubby vegetation, this species is probably negatively affected by livestock grazing in riparian vegetation.

Nesting Data: We have no confirmed records of nests or young in the study area. Nesting in Kansas occurs during June and July and in the South Dakota Black Hills, nesting occurs from late May through July (Johnsgard 1979).