Longspurs and snow buntings (Calcariidae)
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis. Grass and weed seeds from open, snowy ground.
Longspurs and snow buntings (Calcariidae)Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Scientific name
- Plectrophenax nivalis
- Length
- 5.9 in
- Weight
- 1.1–1.6 oz
- Nest
- Cup in a rock crevice on arctic tundra
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 10–16 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Mostly white with rusty-buff back markings in winter
- Big white wing patches flash in flight
- Breeding males are pure black and white
Voice
A musical, rippling twitter from swirling flocks.
Diet and feeding
Grass and weed seeds from open, snowy ground.
Snow Buntings by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Summer breeder | July |
| Alberta | Winter visitor | — |
| Colorado | Winter visitor | — |
| Connecticut | Winter visitor | — |
| Idaho | Winter visitor | — |
| Illinois | Winter visitor | — |
| Indiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Iowa | Winter visitor | — |
| Kansas | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Winter visitor | — |
| Manitoba | Winter visitor | — |
| Massachusetts | Winter visitor | — |
| Michigan | Winter visitor | — |
| Minnesota | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Winter visitor | — |
| Montana | Winter visitor | — |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Winter visitor | — |
| New Hampshire | Winter visitor | — |
| New Jersey | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Winter visitor | — |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Winter visitor | — |
| North Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | July |
| Nova Scotia | Winter visitor | — |
| Nunavut | Summer breeder | July |
| Ohio | Winter visitor | — |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Winter visitor | — |
| Oregon | Winter visitor | — |
| Pennsylvania | Winter visitor | — |
| Prince Edward Island | Winter visitor | — |
| Quebec | Winter visitor | — |
| Rhode Island | Winter visitor | — |
| Saskatchewan | Winter visitor | — |
| South Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Winter visitor | — |
| Vermont | Winter visitor | — |
| Washington | Winter visitor | — |
| Wisconsin | Winter visitor | — |
| Wyoming | Winter visitor | — |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | July |
Frequently asked
What do snow buntings eat?
Grass and weed seeds from open, snowy ground. At feeders: cracked corn, millet (scattered on open ground or snow).
How big is a Snow Bunting?
5.9 in long and 1.1–1.6 oz.
Do snow buntings use birdhouses?
No. Cup in a rock crevice on arctic tundra.
Sources
- Snow Bunting — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Snow Bunting life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Snow Bunting — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.