overturn ( foaled 22 april 2004 ) is an irish-bred thoroughbred racehorse trained by donald mccain , jr. .

he has amassed over £ 600,000 in prize money , and has won major races such as the 2011 fighting fifth hurdle .

he is the first ever horse to complete the double of winning newcastle racecourse 's major flat race and major national hunt race - the northumberland plate ( pitmen 's derby ) and fighting fifth .

he finished second behind rock on ruby in the 2012 champion hurdle .

overturn ( horse )

the - racehorse is an online horse racing and breeding magazine with information on horse racing and breeding statistics .
overturn has managed to win 6 races in its career so far . it has proven a profitable horse for the punters over the journey . if you had backed overturn throughout its career you ' d have achieved a 7 % return on investment .
overturn has concluded its racing career , last running on the 12th mar 2013 at cheltenham .
overturn is a 7yo gelding ( male ) from . he is sired by the stallion out of the dam .
2004 aintree grand national hero and local jockey graham lee partnered his first galway winner today , when making all for a famous win on the donald mccain trained overturn in the €250 , 000 guinness galway hurdle , becoming britain’s third winner of the famous handicap .
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, who is based at cholmondeley . it is sired by the stallion barathea out of the dam kristal bridge .
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the snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) , sometimes colloquially called a snowflake , is a passerine bird in the family calcariidae .

it is an arctic specialist , with a circumpolar arctic breeding range throughout the northern hemisphere .

there are small isolated populations on a few high mountain tops south of the arctic region , including the cairngorms in central scotland and the saint elias mountains on the southern alaska-yukon border , and also cape breton highlands .

the snow bunting is the most northerly recorded passerine in the world .

snow bunting

the snow bunting is classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
in order for snow buntings to withstand temperatures of - 40 degrees fahrenheit , they burrow deep into the snow to stay warm . snow buntings also enjoy bathing in the snow .
tinbergen n ( 1939 ) the behavior of the snow bunting in spring . trans linn soc ny 5 : 1–94
green , g . h . and summers , r . w . , snow bunting moult in northeast greenland ,
comparative ecology of horned lark eremophila alpestris flava gm . and snow bunting plectrophenax nivalis l . in subarctic and arctic zones
paskhal’nyi , s . p . and golovatin , m . g . , autumn migration and night migration of snow bunting
love op , macdonald c , mckinnon ea ( 2015 ) canadian snow bunting banding network protocol 2012 . figshare . doi :
comparative ecology of horned lark eremophila alpestris flava gm . and snow bunting plectrophenax nivalis l . in subarctic and arctic zones | springerlink
ebird range map - snow bunting . ebird . cornell lab of ornithology , n . d . web . 20 july 2012 .
seage , m . 2003 .
snow bunting
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) . the internet bird collection . lynx edicions , n . d . web . 20 july 2012 .
cornell laboratory of ornithology . 2000 .
snow bunting
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
this is a very pale snow bunting . snow buntings are uncommon around victoria and best seen in late fall - early winter , so any bunting in february is unusual . this is only the fourth snow bunting record for the rocky point bird observatory checklist . the first three images were taken in february 2005 using the remote camera 5 . the last picture is a poor image through a blurry remote camera 5 housing , but the only one we have so far of a male snow bunting which was taken by pb in march 2007 .
national wildlife federation . 1996 .
snow bunting plectrophenax nivalis
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
known as a harbinger of winter when it migrates south , the snow bunting’s white wing patches make it resemble a large , flying snowflake .
four subspecies of snow bunting are recognised : plectrophenax nivalis nivalis , plectrophenax nivalis vlasowae , plectrophenax nivalis townsendi and plectrophenax nivalis insulae ( 2 ) . although it is generally quite a distinctive species , the snow bunting can sometimes be confused with mckay’s bunting ( plectrophenax hyperboreus ) , which has purer white plumage . the two species occasionally hybridise ( 2 ) ( 3 ) .
birdguides . 1999 .
buntings and new world sparrows snow bunting
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
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the oldest recorded snow bunting was a male at least 8 years , 9 months old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in alaska .
grzimek , b . 1973 . snow bunting . grzimek ' s animal life encyclopedia , vol . 9 . new york : litton world trade corporation .
the apparent decline of the snow bunting in north america may simply reflect the survey methods used rather than an overall population change , as this species occurs outside of most census areas . further research is therefore needed to clarify the snow bunting’s population trends and identify the reasons for any declines ( 2 ) .
subspecies and range : the snow bunting has 4 subspecies that differ mainly in coloration of feather fringes in fresh plumage , extent of black areas and size .
other potential threats to the snow bunting include the use of pesticides on crops , since this species often feeds heavily on agricultural fields in winter ( 2 ) .
north west norfolk ringing group . 2003 .
snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis )
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
jennings , h . 2001 .
snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis )
( on - line ) . elwas . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
to cite this page for personal use : snow bunting . [ online ] . natural history notebooks . canadian museum of nature . last updated ( web site consulted
the snow bunting has a wide breeding distribution in svalbard . the size of the svalbard population is not known , but it has been estimated to be somewhere between 1 , 000 and 10 , 000 pairs . like other passerines the snow bunting shows marked fluctuations in abundance , but no specific trend has been noted in the population .
• the snow bunting belongs to the genus plectrophenax . the genus also contains the mckay’s bunting , r hyperboreus , whose male in breeding plumage is the whitest of i all north american songbirds . the lark bunting , calamospiza melanocorys , offers a sharp contrast as a mainly black bird . the buntings join finches and sparrows in the family emberizidae , which contains over 270 species .
despite its diminutive , sparrowlike form , the hardy snow bunting nests farther north than any other member of its order and can endure temperatures from - 40°f to - 58°f .
snow goose . weight : 6 lbs . numerous serious incidents have resulted from aircraft colliding with snow geese during the fall migration in north america .
the call of the snow bunting is used in mating . the male attracts his mate with a warbled song , which is usually delivered while he is sitting or in circular flight .
in early spring the snow bunting diet consists mainly of compressed seeds , while in summer and fall , the bird also eats spiders and insects , such as beetles , caterpillars and crane flies . throughout the year , the bunting feasts on a variety of seeds , berries and shoots , preferring grasses , sedges and rushes . in winter , the bird searches for open patches in the snow . it scratches the ground , but will also hop while foraging . if the snow is too deep , the bunting will venture to rocky shorelines to feed on invertebrates such as sandhoppers , sea slaters and sand fleas . in the most severe winter conditions the bunting willingly approaches backyard birdfeeders . the bunting , which tends to feed in flocks , takes protein - rich midges , crane flies , moths and spiders back to the nest for its young . summer’s bounty the bunting enjoys a variety of insect prey .
snow bunting rattle begins after 0 : 02 , with lapland longspur rattles before and after for comparison . the second snbu rattle at 0 : 04 is immediately preceded by a lalo rattle .
the snow bunting is aptly named ; it rarely ventures far away from cold , snowy terrain . its summer nests are at the very edge of the icy arctic frontier , and it winters no farther south than areas where snow falls in north america , asia and europe . the snow bunting prefers open country , where it feeds on the ground , but it will also seek out haystacks , barnyards and trash piles near lakeshores , as well as dunes , open beaches of seacoast and salt marshes . the snow bunting roosts on the ground , under a shelter of weeds or tufts of grass , or in snow . snow buntings in north america usually travel no farther south than northern california ; because they start so far north , their migration is as arduous as that of birds that winter farther south .
7 . snow buntings breed further north than any other land - based bird .
they include the snow bunting ( p . nivalis ) , sometimes called “snowflake , ” as their flocks seem to swirl through the air and then settle on winter fields . the whitest north american songbird , mckay’s bunting ( p . hyperboreus ) , nests on the remote bering sea islands of st . matthew and hall .
this project investigates the reproductive biology of the snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) , the only regularly breeding passerine species in svalbard , and how reproductive success relates to variations in behaviour , ecology and climate .
the snow bunting , unlike most passerines , has feathered tarsi , being an adaptation to the harsh environment . other passerines cannot winter as far in the north as this species , except for the common raven .
animals move around the globe in billions , sometimes - like the snow bunting - one of the iconic arctic - breeding species , covering huge distances and enduring the most extreme frigid weather conditions . in this conspicuously white sparrow - sized bird , animal migration epitomizes a stunning success of biological adaptation - with snow bunting representing the only songbird to breed as far north as the arctic circle . indeed , there is nothing north of the snow bunting ' s breeding ground except the north pole and the polar ice cap . these passerines thrive in chilly , alpine conditions , playing and singing in temperatures dipping as low as - 20f .
the snow bunting is the most northerly passerine bird in the world , and is the only passerine with a wide breeding distribution in svalbard . it breeds in a circumpolar range , south to scotland and iceland , and it is a common breeder in suitable habitats in northern scandinavia , greenland , svalbard , arctic parts of russia and the northerly parts of north america . the snow bunting is a stocky sparrow - like passerine .
snow buntings are ground feeders that live primarily on seeds , leaf buds , and insects . young snow buntings are fed exclusively arthropods , including both insects and arachnids . after migrating south , snow buntings that nest along the sea coast add crustaceans to their diets .
the aptly - named snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) is a hardy , medium - sized songbird of the high arctic and snowy winter fields . sometimes known as the ‘snowflake’ , its white plumage and dancing flight give its flocks the appearance of swirling snow flurries ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) .
- an open access journal by versita - christie macdonald , a student of love ' s , and her colleagues try to determine how snow bunting populations are linked in space and time . considering that the snow bunting poses an extra challenge to monitor due to its inaccessible breeding locations , nomadic lifestyle and small body size , they argue , combining multiple sources of data is the most appropriate approach to track patterns of the birds ' migratory connectivity .
you can read more about snow buntings in the december 2014 issue of birdwatching . subscribe .
breeding season the breeding season begins in late may , after the female snow buntings arrive .
the collective name for a group of snow buntings is a
drift
of buntings .
the snow bunting is a common and widespread species ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 7 ) , and most of its breeding habitat is remote from the effects of human activities ( 4 ) . however , there is some evidence to suggest that the snow bunting is in serious decline in north america . the reasons for this are unknown , but may be linked to a shift in the species’ distribution as a result of climate change ( 2 ) .
the snow bunting forages on the ground or in low vegetation by walking , running and hopping . flying insects are caught by sallies . it also burrows into the snow when searching for food . during the non - breeding season , they form huge flocks of tens or hundreds of birds , but small groups can be seen too , as well as only 2 - 3 birds together . they enjoy bathing in the snow .
in winter , the snow bunting may be found in coastal regions and around lake and ocean shores , as well as in open fields and on farmland ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 7 ) .
national wildlife federation . 1996 .
snow bunting plectrophenax nivalis
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken ; = 1599 & curgroupid ; = 1 & curpagenum ; = 270 & recnum ; = bd0527 .
the snow bunting is not currently threatened , probably due to its often inaccessible arctic habitat . however , the small birds sometimes die in great numbers in nesting areas from may and june snowstorms , which cover its food supply . a friendly flock preferring to fly in relatively small flocks , snow buntings hunt for food and travel together .
2 . snow buntings have been known to cross - breed with beringian mckay’s buntings in alaska .
breeding season : the breeding season begins in late may , after the female snow buntings arrive .
the snow bunting can often be seen in small flocks of 20 - 30 birds , especially when feeding or migrating ; entire flocks quickly take to the air if one bird is spooked . the buntings often fly in great , sweeping circles and then return close to the spot from which they took flight . the bird usually stays on the ground , but occasionally perches on boulders . during exceptionally hard winters , the bunting seeks shelter by digging burrows in the snow . in north america , the arrival of snow buntings in large numbers during october and november is a sure sign that winter is coming , much as the robin is a sign of spring . rocky resting spot a weary snow bunting takes time out to perch atop a rocky boulder to rest during its long and tiring migration south to relatively warmer areas .
behaviour in the wild : the snow bunting usually feeds on seeds , buds and insects , and some other invertebrates such as small crustaceans in coastal habitats . during the breeding season , the chicks are fed on arthropods including insects and spiders .
note solid black back . the similar mckay ' s bunting has a white back and more extensively white wings . ; photographer kevin t . karlson
montgomerie , r . and lyon , b . ( 2011 ) snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) . in : poole , a . ( ed . ) the birds of north america online . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca . available at : urltoken
snow buntings are prey for arctic foxes , snowy owls , falcons , and skuas ( jaegers ) .
montgomerie , robert and bruce lyon . 2011 . snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) , the birds of north america online ( a . poole , ed . ) . ithaca : cornell lab of ornithology ; retrieved from the birds of north america online : urltoken
however , it is the very north of britain that faces the most worrying changes . apart from the scottish crossbill and the snow bunting , the arctic skua , leach ' s petrel and the common scooter also face extinction by the end of the century .
seeds are part of the snow bunting ' s diet year round , but especially in winter . during summer , they eat more insects and spiders , and the young are fed almost entirely an invertebrate diet . birds in coastal areas may also eat tiny crustaceans .
birds with ranges in scotland or in mountain regions will be wiped out - such as the snow bunting , which today survives only on the cairngorm plateau . the scottish crossbill , the only bird species unique to the british isles , is also likely to perish .
unburied beetle… when the last patches of thawing snow reveal the bunting’s rocky habitat , insect prey such as beetles find it hard to hide . hunting expedition… to feed her rapidly growing nestlings , the female hunts among the rocks for an insect dinner , which she clasps in her bill . dinner delivery… to reach her hidden nest , the female hops down through the crevices and holes among the rocks and boulders in which it was built . home at last finally perched at the side of the nest after her hunting expedition , the female begins feeding one of the four hungry nestlings . only residents on the arctic tundra see the black - and - white breeding plumage of the snow bunting . more familiar are the brown - and - white birds seen farther south . the snow bunting is one of two species of birds that often receives the nickname snowbird ; the other is the dark - eyed junco . another nickname for the bunting is “snowflake . ”
snow buntings are most commonly seen in winter , arriving from late september and leaving in february and march .
id in detail tips on determining the age , sex , and subspecies of snow buntings ( pdf ) .
the snow bunting breeds in the high arctic , from scandinavia , iceland and parts of northern scotland , through russia and siberia , to alaska , canada and greenland ( 2 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) . most populations migrate south for the winter , with those in north america travelling to southern canada , the western and southern coasts of alaska , and south to the great plains of the usa . outside of north america , the snow bunting winters from southern scandinavia and western europe , eastwards through central asia ( 2 ) .
. as an important member of the food chain , snow buntings help maintain the delicate balance of their ecosystems .
the arrival and song of the male snow bunting herald the end of the long , cold , dark winter in high arctic regions worldwide . males return to their high arctic breeding grounds in early april , when the temperature can dip as low as - 30°c and food resources are largely snow covered . such early arrival can thus be energetically costly , and unseasonable storms can occasionally be devastating for early migrants . females arrive four to six weeks later , when days are warming and snow is beginning to melt .
the song of the male snow bunting , given from a perch or in flight , consists of a rapid , musical trilling or warbling . snow buntings also use a variety of calls , including a soft , rolling , musical rattle , a loud ‘ tsweet ’ , a sharp ‘ chi - tik ’ , and a mournful - sounding ‘ teu ’ ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 5 ) .
treeless , uncultivated barren rocky terrain , often near snow , also sea cliffs ; often nests near or . . .
male snow buntings sing a finchlike low and husky warble . males sing in flight or while perched on a rock .
the snow bunting usually feeds on the ground , on a variety of seeds , buds , insects and other small invertebrates , including small marine crustaceans in coastal areas ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) . the young are fed mainly on invertebrates ( 2 ) ( 4 ) . weed , grass and sedge seeds are commonly eaten , and the snow bunting also feeds on grains such as wheat , oats and barley , as well on young leaves in spring ( 2 ) ( 4 ) . this species may form dense foraging flocks in winter ( 5 ) .
the snow bunting usually begins nesting around june ( 2 ) . the nest is built deep in a crack or cavity in rock , and consists of a thick - walled cup of moss and grass , lined with grass , rootlets , fur and feathers ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) . in areas where natural nest sites are limited , the snow bunting will also use man - made sites , including buildings , rubble , barrels , boxes and metal cans ( 2 ) ( 4 ) . the female snow bunting builds the nest and incubates the clutch of 2 to 8 eggs , which hatch after about 10 to 15 days . although rock cavities are usually quite safe from predators , they can be cold for developing eggs . the male may therefore feed the female during the incubation period , allowing the female to remain on the nest and prevent the eggs from chilling ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) .
in 1795 , the arctic explorer samuel hearne recorded detailed observations on the distribution , ecology , molt , and behaviour of the snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) . the most significant of his observations was that snow buntings imitated the vocalizations of atlantic canaries ( serinus canarius ) when housed with that species . his account has apparently not been widely recognized by ornithologists , but it is one of the first such observations on bird’s acquisition of vocalizations .
there are not known to be any specific conservation measures currently in place for this arctic songbird . the provision of artificial nest sites could potentially increase the snow bunting population in some areas , and studies are needed into the possible effects of pesticides and other chemicals on its winter habitats and food supplies ( 2 ) .
the snow bunting has swift flight with rapid wingbeats . during the migration , the large flocks seem to be in constant motion with birds from the back flying forwards over the birds in the front . there is a hierarchy in these flocks . adult birds are dominant over 1st winter young , and males over females .
two particular birds provide telling evidence of the future facing the british countryside and its inhabitants : the lapwing and the cirl bunting , a relative of the yellowhammer . the cirl bunting is common around the mediterranean , although its range has steadily moved northwards until , late last century , a breeding colony was established in the south of england . by 1989 there were 118 breeding pairs . today the population has spread and there are now more than 700 pairs . by the end of this century , cirl bunting are likely to be found throughout most of england and ireland .
snow buntings are best looked for in winter on coastal sites in scotland and eastern england ( as far south as kent ) .
little is known of snow buntings ' s effects on humans . however , they do provide pleasure for many bird watchers . for instance , in alaska snow buntings are cavity - nesting birds and some people enjoy building birdhouses so they can observe the birds .
during the breeding season , the snow bunting is found on tundra , typically nesting in rocky areas , boulder fields or on cliffs , near to well - vegetated areas where it can feed ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 7 ) . it tends to avoid nesting on open , vegetated tundra with few rocky areas , but may use such habitats if artificial nesting sites are available ( 2 ) . the snow bunting is often found at relatively high altitudes , even in the high arctic , and is one of the few species to inhabit ‘nunataks’ , exposed islands of tundra that protrude above surrounding ice caps ( 2 ) .
the snow bunting is migratory and usually females migrate farther s than males . they leave the breeding grounds between september and early november , depending on the wintering areas . according to weather conditions , they arrive in low arctic in mid - march , and mostly early april in high arctic . they migrate in loose flocks .
the snow bunting makes its nest in the summer in the north pole region . it looks for warmer terrains in october , flying south to the north sea and baltic sea regions . that is why you see groups of snow buntings in the netherlands on beach plains and salt marshes during the winter . they feed on whatever plant seeds they can find . usually , it ' s not difficult to approach these groups closely because they are unaccustomed to people .
female snow buntings collect moss and grass to create a thick open cup that they line with fine grasses , rootlets , fur , and feathers . because nest sites are limited , snow buntings use old nests , adding new lining to nests from the previous season .
lyon , b . and r . montgomerie . 1995 . snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) . species account number 198 . the birds of north america online ( a . poole , ed . ) . ithaca , ny : cornell laboratory of ornithology ; retrieved 3 / 25 / 2008 from the birds of north america online database
snow buntings are the world ' s most northerly passerine bird , and the only passerine that has an extensive breeding distribution in svalbard .
the snow bunting is a widespread and common species . however , evidence suggests that this species is in significant decline in north america . reasons for this may be due to their distribution resulting from climate change . another possible threat is the use of pesticides for crops , since these birds often feed heavily in winter at agricultural fields .
snow bunting recordings by gerrit vyn © cornell lab of ornithology macaulay library cornell lab of ornithology 159 sapsucker woods road ithaca new york 14850 united states of america tel : + 1 ( 607 ) 254 - 2404 fax : + 1 ( 607 ) 254 - 2439 email : macaulaylibrary @ urltoken website : www . birds . urltoken / macaulaylibrary
snow buntings impact their ecosystem the most through the food chain . they eat arthropods , seeds , and leaf buds . since they associate themselves with other field birds , it is likely that all the birds in the environment compete for resources . snow buntings are also prey to
measuring 6″ long from bill to tail , the dark - eyed junco ( junco hyemalis ) is about the same size as the snow bunting . there are four subspecies of this junco , with considerable variations in color females of all subspecies are less colorful than males ; all forms have white outer tail feathers , a pale bill , a white belly and dark eyes . the junco , like the bunting , feeds largely on the ground , eating mainly seeds in the winter and adding berries and insects to its summer diet . while northernmost populations of the junco migrate to the southern u . s . in the winter and nest in mountain and boreal forests and edges , the bunting in the u . s . rarely strays farther south than northern california .
snow buntings are found in both the nearctic and palearctic regions , including northern europe , russia , and canada from early april to mid - september . after migrating in mid - to late - september , snow buntings can be found in southern canada and the northern united states .
introduction : the snow bunting is a bird of open fields and tundra that breeds in the high arctic , further north than almost any other songbird . it is migratory and spends the winter on coastal areas including beaches , sand dunes and saltmarshes , but also in steppes and farmland . this species suffers from very low temperatures and digs deep into the snow to stay warm . it is a ground feeder that feeds primarily on seeds , buds and insects . however , during the winter along coasts , it also takes small crustaceans . the snow bunting is a gregarious species that migrates in large flocks in which there is a definite hierarchy . but during the breeding season , the territory is strongly defended . this species is common within its large circumpolar range , and despite some decline , it is still widespread and not globally threatened .
snow buntings are diurnal and social birds . they migrate in big flocks which look as though they are in constant motion , as birds at the back fly over birds in front , a constant cycle . there is a clear hierarchy in these flocks , adult birds being dominant over birds experiencing their first winter , and males dominant over females . the flocks in winter usually are made up only of snow buntings . in other seasons they may include pipits , lapland longspurs and horned larks . to cope with - 40 degrees fahrenheit temperatures and stay warm , snow buntings burrow deep down into the snow . they enjoy bathing in snow . these birds forage either on the ground or within low vegetation by hopping , walking or running . they also catch flying insects and burrow into the snow for food . their call is used mainly when mating .
snow buntings will forage and migrate in flocks , but usually become more stand - offish when it comes to defending nesting sites during breeding season .
detections of 3 snow buntings by detailed ecological unit in yukon - charley rivers national preserve , alaska , avian inventory , june 1999 and 2000 .
summer range : snow buntings breed farther north than any other known land bird . male birds arrive at high arctic breeding grounds in early april , when temperatures can dip as low as - 20 f and snow still covers most of the ground . females arrive north four to six weeks later .
according to the iucn red list , the total snow bunting population size is more than 40 million individuals , with national population sizes estimated at fewer than 1 , 000 wintering individuals , with fewer than 50 individuals and 10 , 000 - 100 , 000 breeding pairs migrating in japan , around 1 , 000 - 10 , 000 birds on migration and 50 - 1 , 000 individuals wintering in russia . overall , currently snow buntings are classified as least concern ( lc ) , but their numbers today are decreasing .
appearance : a largish , stocky bunting . males black and white in colouring , females brown and white . striking white patches on wings , rump and tail edges prominent in flight . beak dark and cone - shaped .
hussell djt ( 1985 ) on the adaptive basis for hatching asynchrony—brood reduction , nest failure and asynchronous hatching in snow buntings . ornis scand 16 : 205–212
the snow bunting adult female is smaller . in breeding plumage , crown , nape and hindneck are darker than in male . the upperparts are mostly brownish , with the darker feathers fringed with pale buff . the white areas of the upperwing are less extensive . she resembles male when she has very worn plumage . in non - breeding plumage , she is similar to the male .
habitat : the snow bunting breeds on open rocky tundra , but also on sea cliffs and occasionally human settlements . it prefers areas with rocky outcrops and boulder fields , and usually avoids the wet tundra . during winter , it can be seen in open lowland country , from stubble fields , short grass prairies , farmland and steppes to grassy sand dunes , beaches and lake shores .
we thank the following sources of funding for this work : natural sciences and engineering research council ( nserc ) of canada ( discovery and research tools and instruments grants to opl , canada graduate scholarship to cam ) , canada research chairs ( crc ) program ( opl ) , aboriginal affairs and northern development canada’s northern scientific training program ( nstp ) , the polar continental shelf program ( pscp ) , bird studies canada’s james l . baillie memorial fund ( to the canadian snow bunting network ) , environment canada , and the university of windsor . we also thank staff at the canadian bird banding office , members of the canadian snow bunting banding network , and field crews at east bay island . two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript .
bazely , d . r . 1987 . snow buntings feeding on leaves of salt - marsh grass during spring migration . condor 89 : 190 - 192 .
vincent , j . and j . bedard . 1976 . fat reserves in snow buntings . can . j . zool . 54 : 1051 - 1063 .
snow buntings breed farther north than any other known land bird . the breeding season begins in late may , after the female snow buntings arrive . they build their nests with grass and moss and line them with feathers and fur . in hopes of avoiding predation , these birds hide their nests in the rocky terrain .
rising , j . ( 2018 ) . snow bunting ( plectrophenax nivalis ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
the first migrant to arrive in the arctic in spring ( 2 ) , the male snow bunting returns to its breeding grounds in mid - march to early april , when temperatures can still reach as low as - 30 degrees celsius and snow still covers much of the ground . the males arrive early to establish a territory containing suitable nesting sites . when the females arrive , around four to six weeks later , the males display to attract a mate , flying up high before gliding down again while singing ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) .
snow buntings are 16 . 51 to 19 . 05 cm long , weigh about 40 g and have wingspans of 30 . 48 to 33 . 02 cm .
falconer cm , mallory ml , nol e ( 2008 ) breeding biology and provisioning of nestling snow buntings in the canadian high arctic . polar biol 31 : 483–489
outside of the breeding season , the male and female snow bunting are more similar in appearance , both developing more buffy plumage . the feathers of the head are tipped with brown and those of the back and wings are tipped white or reddish - brown , giving a mottled appearance ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) . there is also a faint reddish band across the breast ( 3 ) ( 5 ) . unusually , although the adult male snow bunting’s breeding and non - breeding plumage look very different , the breeding plumage is not attained through a moult into new feathers . instead , the coloured tips of the feathers wear off in late winter and spring , revealing the pure black or white bases of the feathers beneath ( 2 ) ( 3 ) . juvenile snow buntings are distinguished from the adult by a greyer body and head , and a dark brownish - black tail and wings ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 5 ) .
the family emberizidae encompasses a variety of widespread species , including emberizid buntings , longspurs , juncos , sparrows and towhees . derived from the german word
bunt
( meaning mottled ) , buntings are named for their multicolored plumage . the
snow
portion of the name refers to their early arrival to the arctic , when snow may still be on the ground . indeed , the specific name ,
nivalis ,
is derived from the latin word for snow ! snow buntings are ground birds of open fields and tundra . various seasonal and immature plumages may complicate their identification . use distinctive head and wing patterns and habitat to distinguish these buntings .
protection / threats / status : the snow bunting has wide range in which it is common and even very common in suitable habitat , in spite of some decline during the last 30 - 40 years . this species is preyed upon by the arctic fox , gulls , skuas , gyrfalcon and snowy owl . they try to avoid predators by hiding the nests among the rocks or in holes . the white plumage is also used as camouflage in the snowy habitat . the global population is estimated to number more than 40 , 000 , 000 individuals . after some decline , this population has begun to recover , due to the reduction of grazing and no more embankment projects planned . these projects have involved the destruction of saltmarshes in coastal areas in s north sea . the snow bunting is currently evaluated as least concern .
. in order to protect themselves , snow buntings hide their nests amongst the rocky terrain . their white wings also help to camouflage the birds against their snowy habitat .
malkins , c . 2003 .
snow buntings : living snowflakes on shorelines and grasslands
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2004 at urltoken .
the incubation period for snow buntings ranges from four to ten days and during this time the males feed the nestbound females . in the extreme cold , the eggs would not hatch if they did not have the mother ' s constant warmth . the nestling period of snow buntings usually lasts ten to fifteen days . during this time the parents feed their nestlings almost exclusively arthropods . since snow buntings are social birds and travel in flocks it is assumed that the young birds join the parental flock after fledging .
a winter visitor to washington , the snow bunting is seen from mid - october through march . they are found in open areas of central and eastern washington , and can often be seen along us route 2 . along the coast they can be seen in open dunes and grassy areas . they can occasionally be seen in the puget trough , rarely in seattle , and more often in the northern sound by bellingham .
4 . snow buntings are one of the few species that will inhabit exposed bits of tundra sticking up above the surrounding ice . these islands of tundra are called nunataks .
snow buntings signal the coming of winter for people living in the south where they migrate to , but are a harbinger of spring for those who live in the arctic .
although breeding and nonbreeding snow buntings look quite different , the change from nonbreeding to breeding plumage isn ' t caused by growing in a new set of feathers ( molt ) . the change from brownish to pure white happens when males rub their bellies and heads on the snow , wearing down the brown feather tips to reveal immaculate white features below .
snow buntings are most commonly identified by their distinct white wings ; in fact it is these wings that lend them the name
snowflakes
. while the wings of this species provide a defining characteristic , the two sexes do not always look alike . the male is slightly larger and has mainly black and white coloring . the white is most visible on the underbelly , wings , and facial area . the male ' s tail is black tipped and the bill and feet are also black . the female snow bunting looks similar to the male ; however , what is black on the male becomes a less brilliant grayish brown on the female . the white of the wings is also limited to a smaller patch of the female ' s inner wing . despite the differences seen in the breeding months , in winter , male and female snow buntings look alike . both look like the breeding female with inky black feathers turning a duller shade of grayish ginger brown . the bill also turns a yellowish orange . yet even with the similarities , the male still exhibits a whiter wing . throughout the winter , the dull plumage gradually wears away , revealing again the beautiful black and white feathers of a male snow bunting ready to mate .
waterfowl are attracted to common airport features such as ponds , wetlands , ditches and grass fields . temporary ponding of water from spring snow melt andprolonged rains also attracts these birds .
airports attract doves and pigeons with food sources , water and grit found alongroads , taxiways and runways—particularly during snow removal . airfields andassociated buildings and structures provide loafing and roosting areas .
the snow bunting places its nest deep in cracks or other cavities in rocks . although such nest sites are relatively secure from predators , rocks are cold . the thick nest lining of fur and feathers helps keep the eggs and nestlings warm , but the female must stay on the nest for most of the incubation period . because the female can ' t leave the nest very often , the male brings her food almost every 15 minutes .
5 . snow buntings represent the coming of winter to people living in their southern migration zone , but are looked for as a harbinger of spring by those living in the arctic .
the snow buntings have an important role as eaters of arthropods , seeds , and leaf buds . they also serve as prey for arctic foxes and snowy owls , their natural predators .
the snow bunting is appropriately named , being a bird of the arctic and snowy winter fields . the mostly white feathers of a flock of buntings brings to mind the idea of a snowstorm even on a day that is warm . they are sometimes called
snowflakes ,
and flocks of them seem like snowflakes , swirling through the air and settling on winter fields . snow buntings south of the arctic are strictly winter birds , which arrive in late fall , usually departing at the start of spring . they spend summer in the barren northern tundra . in certain high arctic communities they nest in birdhouses that people put out for them .
montgomerie , robert and bruce lyon . 2011 . mckay ' s bunting ( plectrophenax hyperboreus ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
snow buntings are already being reported in the upper great plains , great lakes states , and the northeast . here’s where to look and what to look for to tell males from females .
snow , d . w . & perrins , c . m . ( 1998 ) . the birds of the western palearctic concise edition . oup isbn 0 - 19 - 854099 - x .
airfields are popular with these species because of seed availability . when fields arecovered with deep snow , the bare grass edges of plowed runways are particularlyattractive , providing a source of seeds and grit .
snow buntings that nest in the eastern north american arctic migrate southward ( those in eastern greenland migrate to europe ) , but those from alaska move southeastward , mostly to the upper great plains states .
snow buntings are usually seen in small flocks in open fields and along shorelines , where they feed mainly on seeds . a sizeable flock swirling over a field in winter can be a spectacular sight .
male snow buntings head to their high arctic breeding grounds when the ground is still covered in snow and temperatures can dip to - 22° f . that doesn ' t seem like a good time to arrive , but males need to arrive early to make sure they get one of the limited nesting spots in a rock crevice . females join them 3 to 4 weeks later when things start to warm up .
snow buntings eat grass and flowering - plant seeds as well as insects and spiders . they pick seeds and insects from the ground or leap up from the ground to grab a seed or other prey .
there is simply no place left for these birds to go ,
said graham madge of the rspb .
the crossbill is now confined to the very north of scotland . as europe heats up , only iceland offers the prospect of a new homeland . however , the crossbill cannot fly that far - certainly not enough across the north sea . similarly , the snow bunting has had to move further and further up the cairngorms as the climate has warmed . basically it is running out of mountain .
the snow bunting is the most northerly passerine bird in the world . it breeds in a circumpolar range , south to scotland and iceland , and it is a common breeder in suitable habitats in northern scandinavia , greenland , svalbard , arctic parts of russia and the northerly parts of north america . four sub - species are recognized . the svalbard population belongs to the nominate race p . n . nivalis . it is the only passerine with a wide breeding distribution in svalbard . snow buntings breed over most of the archipelago , except for some far eastern areas . it is a migratory bird that winters in temperate areas . recoveries of ring - marked birds suggest that svalbard ' s snow buntings migrate in a south - easterly direction over northwest russia , towards the russian steppes north of the caspian sea and in kazakhstan . snow buntings from svalbard have been recovered during spring in areas around the white sea and on the kanin peninsula . it is not known whether the svalbard population migrates directly from the white sea to svalbard , or whether they migrate via northern norway . most snow buntings leave svalbard in august - september . the males arrive from the wintering grounds early in spring , some of them as early as the end of march , but the majority arrive during april . females move north into the breeding areas some weeks later than the male .
north american populations include well over 100 million ducks of all species , more than three million snow geese , over four million canada geese , as well as starlings and blackbirds estimated in the hundreds of millions .
calls and songs : sounds by xeno - canto the snow bunting calls when mating in order to attract a female . the call is a soft , undulating twittering “pirrr - rit” often followed by a clear , ringing “peeu” . a rasping “trrree” can be heard coming from the flying flocks . the song is a variable , sweet , warbling phrase , delivered from boulder or during a short , descending song flight “tzwee - tzwee - chu - wee - tu - wee” . the song is fairly loud for a small bird .
the ecological features of snow buntings and horned lark have been discussed ; their ecology has so much in common that they are the only representatives of the passeriformes order in polar deserts and arctic tundra . under the current climate conditions of the arctic , there is no northern range limit for snow buntings . the limit of the horned lark northern range is determined by the minima of biotopic , food supply , and temperature factors ; these factors allow the horned lark to penetrate the arctic zone , though not to occupy a considerably large part of it . southern limits of distribution of horned larks and snow buntings are probably determined by the light regime in the region , since outside the polar day zone the birds are unable to enter a state of reproductive activity . an additional requirement for the nesting habitat of snow buntings is an average july temperature below 10°c .
during the winter , large mixed - species flocks gather throughout the u . s . andsouthern canada . lapland longspurs and snow buntings are the most widespread ; their flocks can be made up of thousands of birds .
the snow bunting mating season is from late may to july . most males are monogamous , but polygamy has been recorded . about one - half of pairs raise two broods per year after mating , the female builds her nest out of dead grass , moss and plant stalks lined with animal fur and bird feathers . she prefers to build her nest on the ground in rocky country , stony beaches , sea cliffs or grassy tundra . the female lays 3 - 9 eggs , which are bluish or white and marked with brown and lilac spots and speckles . the female alone completes the 10 - 15 day incubation . after hatching , the young are fed invertebrates , such as mosquitoes , midges , crane flies , moths and spiders ; the female provides most of the food . the young reach 90 % of their adult weight after about 8 days , and leave the nest from 10 - 17 days after hatching . although their arctic habitat and long migration results in a rugged life for the juvenile snow bunting , the hardy young birds are fully able to accompany their parents on the long journey southward .
snow buntings spend the summer in the arctic tundra , nesting in rocky areas and foraging in patches of sedges and other vegetation . in the winter they use open fields , croplands with grain stubble , shorelines , and roadsides .
snow buntings are omnivores , they mainly eat seeds , the buds of leaves , and insects . the young are fed arthropods only , both insects and arachnids . those birds that nest on the sea coast also eat crustaceans .
winter range : in mid - to late - september , snow buntings leave their arctic breeding grounds and fly to southern canada and the northern united states . there , they spend winter on open fields , prairies or beaches .
6 . during the winter snow buntings have a more subdued colourization with light brown markings to break up the white . however by the time breeding season rolls around the males have grown into their high - contrast black on white covering .
it is commonly said that snow buntings raise only one brood of four to six young a year . while this is predominately the case , studies by d . nethersole thompson showed that nine out of nineteen pairs raised a second brood .