Snow Bunting in December
Where snow buntings are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Snow Bunting's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Snow Bunting specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 43 states and provinces where snow buntings occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where snow buntings are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- winter visitor
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, snow buntings are absent in the South, winter visitor across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Snow buntings are not nesting in December. The season runs June–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, snow buntings put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in December
- Grass, weed and waste grain seeds
'Snowflakes' — flocks swirl over open winter fields and roadsides. Scatter seed on bare open ground, not near cover.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Snow Bunting diet guide → · Best feeder for snow buntings →
Watching snow buntings this month
Snow buntings are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region snow buntings are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Snow Bunting month by month
Snow Bunting by state
Frequently asked
Where are snow buntings in December?
In December, snow buntings are absent in the South, winter visitor across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do snow buntings nest in December?
No — snow buntings typically nest June through July at mid-latitudes.
What do snow buntings eat in December?
Grass, weed and waste grain seeds.
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.