Lazuli Buntings are among the most colorful inhabitants of the Western U.S. during breeding season, heading to the Pacific side of Mexico during Winter. My best luck with finding them is in dry, hilly thickets along a stream, and typically when I see one, I'll see a number of them. They don't flock per se, but establish relatively small adjacent territories, though occasionally I will see small groups of females/juveniles. My experience is that they are relatively shy and difficult to approach. For this particular photo, I had been kneeling on the ground next to a large bush for awhile, so when this male flew into a patch of mustard near the bush, I was able to use the bush as cover to get a clean shot before he took off. Point Mugu State Park, CA, May 2023.