Snow bunting

The snow bunting is a passerine bird in the family Calcariidae. It is an Arctic specialist, with a circumpolar Arctic breeding range throughout the northern hemisphere. There are small isolated populations on a few high mountain tops south of the Arctic region, including the Cairngorms in central Scotland and the Saint Elias Mountains on the southern Alaska-Yukon border, as well as the Cape Breton Highlands. The snow bunting is the most northerly recorded passerine in the world.

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Distribution

Region

Circumpolar Arctic

Typical Environment

Breeds across the high Arctic of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, and Siberia. Winters south into northern temperate zones of Eurasia and North America, frequenting coasts, fields, and open country. Small, isolated resident or breeding populations occur on high mountain tops south of the Arctic, including the Cairngorms, Saint Elias Mountains, and Cape Breton Highlands. Prefers open, treeless terrain with sparse vegetation, rocky outcrops, and snow-free patches for feeding.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2500 m

Climate Zone

Polar

Characteristics

Size15–18 cm

Wing Span32–38 cm

Male Weight0.04 kg

Female Weight0.035 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

An Arctic specialist, the snow bunting breeds farther north than any other passerine. Males often arrive on breeding grounds weeks before snow melts and sing from exposed rocks. They have feathered tarsi that help insulate against extreme cold. Small alpine populations persist far south of the Arctic in places like Scotland’s Cairngorms and Alaska–Yukon’s Saint Elias Mountains.

Gallery

A female snow bunting wintering atop Mount Agamenticus in York, ME.

Snow bunting young using a building as protection

The same chicks eight days later

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

strong, bounding flight

Social Behavior

Forms loose to large flocks in winter, often mixing with other seed-eating birds. On breeding grounds, pairs are territorial and nest in rock crevices or cavities lined with fine grasses, hair, and feathers. Males arrive early and sing to advertise territories; both parents feed the young.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

A clear, tinkling series of sweet, bell-like notes and trills, delivered from perches or in short song flights. Calls include soft buzzes and a sharp, metallic chew or tew, often given in flight.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Snow goose

The snow goose is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed in the genus Chen, but is now typically included in the "gray goose" genus Anser.

Snow Mountain quail

The Snow Mountain quail, is a roughly 28-cm-long (11 in), dark brown quail of alpine grasslands. It was formerly considered the only member of the genus Anurophasis, but phylogenetic analysis places it as the sister species to the brown quail in the genus Synoicus. It has heavily marked brown plumage, a pale yellow bill, yellow legs and a brown iris. The underparts of the female are whitish and more distinctly barred black than in the male.

Snow partridge

The snow partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae found widely distributed across the high-altitude Himalayan regions of Pakistan, China, India and Nepal. It is the only species within its genus, and is thought to be the most basal member of the "erectile clade" of the subfamily Phasianinae. The species is found in alpine pastures and open hillside above the treeline but not in as bare rocky terrain as the Himalayan snowcock and is not as wary as that species. Males and females look similar in plumage but males have a spur on their tarsus.

Snow pigeon

The snow pigeon is a species of bird in the genus Columba in the family Columbidae from hilly regions of central Asia. They are grey, black, pale brown and white birds and two subspecies are recognised: C. l. leuconota occurs in the western Himalayas from western Afghanistan to Sikkim and C. l. gradaria occurs in the mountains of eastern Tibet and from eastern Nan Shan (Qinghai) to Yunnan and extreme northern Myanmar. The birds forage in open country in pairs or small groups, feeding on grain, buds, shoots, berries and seeds. They roost at night on cliffs, breeding in crevices where they build untidy stick nests and lay a clutch of usually two white eggs. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird's conservation status as being of least concern.