Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
What do snow buntings look like?
High-contrast black and white plumage characterizes these Arctic birds. During the spring and summer breeding season, the male (shown above) is mostly white with black and white wings. Females and nonbreeding males are mostly white with brown markings around the face, wings and chest. Black beaks or brown beaks with black points punctuate their look. They’re slightly smaller than robins and spend most of their time on the ground eating insects and seeds.
Where you'll find them
These songbirds nest in the rocky areas of the Arctic tundra during the summer. The male uses a flight song display to mark territory and attract a mate, flying straight up and then singing while gliding down. After the spring and summer breeding season, they migrate south in midfall to the northern half of the United States, where they feed in fields and shorelines. They gather in flocks, sometimes with other bird species, and are often quite active, flying in short bursts overtop each other in an effect like snow blowing across a field. Look for them in places where the snow has blown away. In late winter, males return to the Arctic, and females follow in early spring.
How to attract snow bunting birds to your garden
In addition to their diet of insects, snow buntings prefer seeds from grasses and sedges. Because they forage on the ground, you won’t find them at the feeder, but maybe will spy them feeding below it. They’re more likely to congregate in larger open areas, so if you don’t have that space in your yard, keep an eye out for them on your next country drive or winter walk along a shoreline.
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