Northwest Territories · Summer breeder

Snow Buntings in Northwest Territories

When snow buntings are present in Northwest Territories, when they nest, which native Northwest Territories plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1a yard.

Longspurs and snow buntings (Calcariidae)Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis

Status in Northwest Territories: Summer breeder
Nesting window: July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–1a

When to expect snow buntings in Northwest Territories

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

Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.

Nesting in Northwest Territories

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

Brief summers with midnight sun.

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 Northwest Territories plants that attract snow buntings

Of the regional native plants we track for Northwest Territories, 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 Northwest Territories year

Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (scattered on open ground or snow).
In Northwest Territories'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 Northwest Territories year-round?

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

When do snow buntings nest in Northwest Territories?

Nesting in Northwest Territories 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 Northwest Territories?

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

Other backyard birds in Northwest Territories

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow Canada Jay White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush American Crow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Western Tanager Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill 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.