{"id":32944,"date":"2023-12-07T08:47:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T07:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/867727e8-e0bc-4c1b-9f68-80f894c3761c"},"modified":"2023-12-07T09:39:25","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T08:39:25","slug":"snow-bunting-guide-identification-call-and-uk-distribution","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/snow-bunting-guide-identification-call-and-uk-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Snow bunting guide: identification, call and UK distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"

The snow bunting breeds further north than any other small bird in the world. Learn all about this tough little songbird, including what it looks like, its call, favoured UK habitat and incredible adaptations with your expert birder’s guide. <\/p>

By Dominic Couzens\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 07 December 2023 at 07:47 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Haul yourself up Ben Nevis<\/a> this summer \u2013 that zigzag bit goes on forever, doesn\u2019t it? \u2013 and you might set eyes on one of Britain\u2019s special birds.<\/p>

We should be very proud to have a tiny breeding population of snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis<\/em>) on our Scottish mountains, because they are arguably the world\u2019s toughest small bird, more used to the company of polar bears than tourists in inadequate footwear.<\/p>

In this guide we take a closer look at the snow bunting, revealing what it looks like, where you can see it, its song, nesting habits and UK populations.<\/p>

Interested in learning more about Britain\u2019s songbirds<\/a>? Check out our guides to tits<\/a>, warblers<\/a> and blackbirds<\/a>.<\/p>

Buntings guide<\/h4>

Buntings are a group of seed-eating birds that bear many of the same characteristics as finches. Learn all about these special songbirds, including six species to look out for in Britain, with your expert guide to buntings<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Yellowhammer flying in a flock\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>

Snow bunting identification<\/h2>

Snow buntings are easy enough to identify, as they are large songbirds, usually with bold white in the wing. There is a bewildering variety of plumages, though, to get to grips with \u2013 summer plumage, winter plumage, males, females and young \u2013 ranging from bold black-and-white to streaky pink-brown. They are all glorious.<\/p>

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The snow bunting has particularly thick plumage, which allows it to cope with cold winter conditions\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Birds in flocks have a distinct habit of queue-jumping, flying over each other to get to the front of the group, meaning that the whole flock seems to roll forward. Most individuals have obvious white wing-bars, making this quite a phenomenon to see.<\/p>

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Snow bunting flock resting on beach at Eccles-on-Sea in Norfolk\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Snow bunting call<\/h2>

If you find a flock, listen out for the distinctive, pleasing, rolling trill. The song is a short, crystal-clear melody.<\/p>