Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Appearance:
Size of a large sparrow

Non-breeding (pictured):

   White underparts
   Pale brown and white upperparts

   Rust-brown band across top of chest

   Pale brown tipped feathers on forehead, crown, nape, and face 

   Black wingtips

   White wing patches and outer tail feathers

   Black inner tail feathers

   Yellowish-orange bill with black tip

Breeding male:

   Mostly white plumage 

   Black back and wingtips

   Black bill

Breeding female:

   White plumage

   Blackish-gray back and wingtips

   White head streaked with gray

   Black bill

Listen to its call.

I photographed this little fellow while enjoying an afternoon at Clover Point last Thursday. It was a lovely fall day, with very little wind or no rain for a change. Not that cold weather would bother this bird. Winter is the time to see Snow Buntings in our area. In the spring, they head north to spend their summers in the Arctic. 

Learn more about the Snow Bunting.