Snow Bunting

The snow bunting is a hardy species, and it has the most northerly breeding range of any songbird in the world – near and even above the Arctic Circle. There, it can survive temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit (-45 degrees Celsius). To keep warm, these birds will huddle in available brush or may even tunnel into the snow.

Common Name:

Snow Bunting

Scientific Name:

Plectrophenax nivalis

Appearance:

• Bill: Small, conical, black (breeding), yellow (non-breeding)
• Size: 7 inches long with 12-inch wingspan, sparrow shape
• Colors: Black, white, gray, chestnut
• Markings: Dimorphic species. Breeding males have white head, shoulders and underparts. The back, wings and tail are black with a large white patch in the wings. Breeding females have similar coloration but are mottled gray and black on the back and wings that may show a brown tinge, and faint streaking shows on the head. In non-breeding plumage, both genders have rich chestnut on the crown, cheeks and shoulders that smoothes into a broken chestnut collar.

Foods:

Seeds, insects

Habitat and Migration:

Snow buntings thrive in the open landscape and can be found along rocky shores and tundra in their summer range near and above the Arctic Circle in Alaska, northern Canada, Europe and Siberia. In winter, these birds migrate south to agricultural regions and grassy fields, as well as coastal beaches and sand dunes. Their winter range includes southern Canada, the Pacific Coast and the northern United States as far south as Colorado, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and similar areas.

The snow bunting's winter range in Europe and Asia stretches along similar latitudes.

Vocalizations:

The snow bunting only sings during the breeding season, and its raspy, high pitched warble lasts 2-3 seconds. The typical call is a high, even "chew" or "tew" single syllable that may be repeated every few seconds. These birds can be gregarious in large winter flocks.

Behavior:

During the breeding season, snow buntings are typically seen only in pairs, but in winter they will form larger foraging flocks that may include other open landscape species such as Lapland longspurs and horned larks. They forage by walking on the ground and picking at seeds and insects, and they are often seen bathing in snow.

Reproduction:

These are monogamous birds. The female parent will incubate 4-9 eggs for 10-16 days while the male brings her food so she can keep the nest warm. After hatching, both parents feed the altricial young for another 10-16 days. While one brood is most common, birds in the southern parts of the breeding range may raise two broods per year.

Attracting Snow Buntings:

In northern habitats, these buntings can be attracted to backyards where winter roost boxes or bird houses are available, and they will visit ground seed feeders or feeding platforms. Shrubby cover in the area can also offer shelter for snow buntings.

Similar Birds:

• McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus)
• Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)

Photo – Snow Bunting – Breeding Male © Ian Montgomery, birdway.com.au
Photo – Snow Bunting – Non-breeding Plumage © Michael Woodruff