Snow Bunting - Sierra Club BC
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Snow Bunting

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Appearance

In the winter, snow buntings are white with black patches on their back and wings. In the summer they have rusty-coloured feathers on their heads and backs. They grow about 15 centimetres long. 

Range & Habitat

Snow buntings only come to B.C. in the winter but nest in the Arctic in the summer. They live in open country like prairies and farmlands. 

Reciprocal relationships

Snow buntings are a kind of sparrow. They are important part of the ecosystem and food chain. Like other sparrows, they eat insects and almost any kind of plant seed they can find. They help to control insect populations, and they help to disperse seeds! If insect populations become too large, then we see an increase in crop damage, greenhouse gas emissions, and insect-borne diseases. By spreading seeds, these birds help to contribute to more biodiverse systems.  

These sparrows nest in the Arctic tundra on rocky areas in nests made of grass and moss. The organic material left from these nests enriches the soil health in rocky tundra landscapes.

They have a sharp whistle call and sometimes make a purring sound. They are an important source of food for larger birds of prey such as hawks and owls. However, with the increasing effects of climate change, new birds have been able to expand their range into the Arctic. Thus, it reduces the available food supply for snow buntings. 

status

COSEWIC: Not Reported 
CDC: Yellow 

More information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca  

photo credit

Canva

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