Alaska · Summer breeder

Snow Buntings in Alaska

When snow buntings are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.

Longspurs and snow buntings (Calcariidae)Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis

Status in Alaska: Summer breeder
Nesting window: July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 1a–8a

When to expect snow buntings in Alaska

Snow Buntings are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in July and leaving after the young are independent.

Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.

Nesting in Alaska

Across Alaska, snow buntings typically nest from July. Plan around that window: June for setup, July for clean-out.

A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.

Snow Buntings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, willow (bebb), dwarf birch for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Alaska plants that attract snow buntings

Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 4 provide food or cover snow buntings use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding snow buntings through the Alaska year

Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (scattered on open ground or snow).
In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for snow buntings · Best feeder for snow buntings

Frequently asked

Are snow buntings in Alaska year-round?

No. Snow Buntings are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.

When do snow buntings nest in Alaska?

Nesting in Alaska typically runs July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 10–16 days.

What native plants attract snow buntings in Alaska?

Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for snow buntings.

Other backyard birds in Alaska

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler American Tree Sparrow Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Chestnut-backed Chickadee Rufous Hummingbird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Belted Kingfisher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.