So this weekend I took a quick trip to Alaska (yes, when you live in the Yukon it is just a quick trip) and throughout the drive I kept seeing these little white birds flying around everywhere.  Today we will explore the life of the Snow Bunting which just happened to be hanging out on the highway between Whitehorse and Skagway this weekend. This actually makes a lot of sense since there are isolated populations of Snow Buntings along the Saint Elias Mountains, which just happens to be on the Yukon-Alaska border.

Typically, the Snow Bunting will head to the Arctic circle to breed, however, they spend the winter months hanging out in grassy fields or along the shores of lakes and oceans.  This is actually a pretty smart strategy since the Arctic is absolutely amazing in the summer but can be harsh for a little birdie in the winter.

It is pretty easy to identify the Snow Bunting since they have distinguishable white patches on their wings.  The breeding males are even easier since they are white with a black back.  During the winter months though both the male and female will be a boring ol’ pale ginger coloured with black and grey on their back.

Since I obviously saw the breeding version of these birds let’s talk about this particular behaviour a little more.  Generally the males will come north about 4-6 weeks before the females.  This can be tough on the birds since temperatures can still drop to -30 degrees Celsius.  The males come up early to establish and defend specific territories. You know, it is important to have a nice house set up before the female comes to visit. During this time the males will still flock together in groups of 30 to 60 to forage for food.  Considering we saw large flocks this weekend, I am going to assume they were looking for food. Although, considering the amount of snow still in the mountains, they would have had a tough time finding seeds and insects to feed on.

Snow Bunting Fast Fact – Besides the Common Raven the Snow Bunting is the only passerine bird that hangs out this far north.  As a result they have feathered feet to protect them from the harsh environment.

I guess that is all for the little Snow Buntings that enjoyed flying in front of my truck this weekend. If you ever get a chance, take a trip to the Saint Elias Mountains to check out the breeding plumage of these little birds. Enjoy the rest of your day!