Buntings Come In All Colors And Shapes, But Did You Know There Is One Is As White As The Purest Snow?

Notably, this bird’s flight reveals distinctive black-and-white wing patches, which are easily discernible and characteristic.

Meet the Snow Bunting:

The adult male snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), in its breeding plumage, displays a white head, neck, and upperparts with some black areas on the crown. Its upperparts are black with brown mottling, while the rump exhibits a white base with central black mottling. The non-breeding male has rusty-brown tinges on white areas, particularly on the nape, crown, ear-coverts, and breast.

Similarly, the adult female, albeit smaller in size, exhibits darker crown, nape, and hindneck compared to the male in breeding plumage. During non-breeding seasons, the female’s appearance resembles that of the male.

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Juveniles display a greyish-brown head and breast, often with a paler throat, while the upperparts are olive-grey with dark grey streaks. The underparts range from whitish to pink or greyish-buff. Four distinct subspecies of Snow Buntings differ in coloration, extent of black areas, and size across their ranges.

The Snow Bunting is a bird typically found in open fields and tundra, primarily nesting in the high Arctic, farther north than most songbirds. It migrates during winters, favoring coastal regions such as beaches, sand dunes, and salt marshes, but also inhabits steppes and farmlands.

This species copes with extremely low temperatures by burrowing deep into the snow for warmth. It primarily feeds on seeds, buds, and insects, occasionally supplementing its diet with small crustaceans along coastal areas during winter. Snow Buntings are social birds, migrating in large flocks with a defined hierarchy, yet fiercely defending territories during breeding seasons.

These birds breed in open rocky tundra, sea cliffs, and occasionally human settlements, avoiding wet tundra. During winters, they frequent lowland areas like farmland, steppes, and grassy sand dunes.

Their calls include soft, undulating twittering sounds and a varied, sweet, warbling song. They forage primarily on the ground, feeding on seeds, buds, insects, and crustaceans in coastal habitats.

Snow Buntings form pair bonds between mid-May and early June, with males arriving earlier than females to claim and defend territories. Males display courtship behaviors, including singing, pursuing females, and performing aerial displays to attract mates. They are migratory, with females migrating farther south than males.

These birds nest in protected cavities, laying 2-8 eggs that are incubated by the female for about 12-14 days. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge within 10-17 days after hatching.

While Snow Buntings face threats from various predators, they have a wide global range and are relatively common in suitable habitats. Though their population has seen some decline, conservation efforts have aided in their recovery, leading to their classification as Least Concern.

Listen to this bird next in the video below:

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Delightfully Arrayed In An Expansive Variation Of Pastel Hues, This Bird Announces His Presence In An Explosion Of Color!

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