Snow bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis
Identification Tips:
- Short, conical bill
- Large white patches in wings
- Inhabits open areas: tundra, beaches, barren fields, etc
- Often found in flocks
- Feeds on the ground
- Distinctive call note given in flight
Adult male alternate:
- White head and underparts
- Black back, wings and tail
- Black bill
- Plumage worn on the breeding grounds in the Arctic
Adult female alternate:
- Upperparts streaked black and gray
- White underparts
- Black back, wings and tail
Basic:
- Variable amounts of brown on head, back and sides of breast
- Dark streaks on back
- White underparts
- Yellow bill
- Plumage worn in winter and during migration
Similar species:
The Snow Bunting is easiest to identify in flight with its large white
wing patches and distinctive calls. On the ground, it is whiter than other
species that occupy a similar habitat. In Alaska, McKay's Bunting is similar
but has a white back.