The Indigo Bird, or the bird better known today as the Indigo Bunting, joined the Painted Bunting (Plate 53) as highly sought after to live in cages and show off their colorful feathers and belt out their warbling songs. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed in 1918 to protect Painted buntings and Indigo buntings and other birds from being trapped and made a part of the pet trade.
Plate 74 – Indigo Bird
Plate 74 of the first edition of "Birds of America" by John James Audubon.