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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: CALCARIIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Snow Bunting Photo

© Kevin T. Karlson

Appropriately named, the Snow Bunting is a bird of the high Arctic and snowy winter fields. Even on a warm day, the mostly white plumage of a bunting flock evokes the image of a snowstorm.

Come watch nesting birds at Nestcams.org

Appearance

Sparrowlike
Sparrowlike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Lots of white in the plumage.
  • Underside white.
  • Large white patches in wings.
  • Brownish on back and face.
  • Black tail with white outer feathers.

Male Description

Wings nearly completely white at base, with black tips, and small black spot on leading edge. Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Head, nape, breast, belly, rump and outer tail feathers white; back, wingtips, and central tail feathers black. Bill black. Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Head, breast, belly, flanks, and rump white. Forehead, crown, nape, and face feathers tipped with brown. Feathers of back and parts of wings black with white or rufous tips. Faint brick red band across top of chest. Bill yellowish orange with black tip.

Female Description

Wingtips brownish black, with much dark across leading edge of wings. Rear and inner section of wings white. Bill yellowish orange. Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Head grayish, with indistinct dusky streaking. Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Head, breast, belly, flanks, and rump white. Forehead, crown, nape, and face feathers tipped with brown. Feathers of back and parts of wings black with white or rufous tips. Faint brick red band across top of chest.

Immature Description

Similar to adult, but more dark on wings.

Range Map Help

Snow Bunting Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Male breeding
    Zoom In

    Snow Bunting

    Male breeding
    • © Kevin T. Karlson, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, June 2000
  • Male nonbreeding
    Zoom In

    Snow Bunting

    Male nonbreeding
    • © Kevin T. Karlson, December 2000
  • Female nonbreeding
    Zoom In

    Snow Bunting

    Female nonbreeding
    • © William L. Newton / CLO
  • Female breeding
    Zoom In

    Snow Bunting

    Female breeding
    • © Kevin T. Karlson, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, June 2000

Similar Species

  • Rare McKay's Bunting very similar, but lacks black on back and has whiter tail.
  • Horned Lark appears mostly white from below, but has longer, mostly black tail and lacks large white patch on top of wing.

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    Snowbird Season. Story and photographs in Living Bird magazine.