Meet the Snow Bunting: Arctic Breeder, Winter Wanderer

Meet the 9th bird in our 2025 Birdorable Bonanza: the Snow Bunting! This bird is a true snow-lover, and one of the hardiest small songbirds in the world.

Snow Buntings live by extremes. In summer, they nest far, far to the north, on the high Arctic tundra, often in rocky crevices, boulder fields, or cliff faces where few other songbirds dare to go. When the long days of Arctic spring arrive, males race north first, arriving in March or early April while snow still blankets the ground and temperatures plunge well below freezing.

The males return early to claim the best nesting territories. Females arrive later and build cozy nests lined with moss, grass, fur, or feathers deep inside rock crevices. Once the eggs hatch, both parents feed the chicks, first with insects and small invertebrates, and later with seeds and plant material when available.

Snow Bunting has a dramatic change in appearance across seasons. In breeding season, males are striking: almost completely white with black on the back, wings, and tail. Females are subtler, with more muted, mottled brownish and gray tones. Outside of breeding season, both sexes adopt a more camouflaged look. Their plumage becomes brownish or rusty on the head and shoulders, which helps them blend into open fields and snowy landscapes as they forage for food. Our Birdorable version of this species features the non-breeding plumage.

When autumn arrives, Snow Buntings migrate south, leaving the frozen tundra for more temperate zones. In North America, they head into southern Canada and the northern United States. In Europe, they spread across northern and central parts of the continent. In winter, they’re often found in open areas like crop fields, shorelines, and coastal dunes, searching for seeds.

For birders, spotting a flock of Snow Buntings in winter is always exciting. They tend to travel in busy, noisy flocks, often bursting into flight with a flash of black-and-white wings. You’ll usually find them in wide open spaces, and their movements can be unpredictable, landing, feeding, and lifting off again within minutes.

The Snow Bunting adds a wintery flair to our growing Birdorable flock. It’s a bird built for survival, thriving in environments where few others dare to go. Whether you see them bouncing along a snowy field or fluttering past in a tight winter flock, they’re a special part of the cold-season birding experience.

Our 2025 Bonanza is almost done! Tomorrow we'll reveal the 10th and final bird. This species is a bold, noisy character from Africa whose call is unforgettable once you’ve heard it. With a long, curved bill, sturdy build, and a voice that practically announces itself across the neighborhood, this species is hard to miss. Which loud bird will be joining us next?