Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is in the Longspurs and Snow Buntings family (Calcariidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,011 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in November.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Snow Bunting: observations by month (U.S.)

About Snow Bunting

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...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Snow Bunting by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Longspurs and Snow Buntings)

Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ