From Opus

Photo by Rob
Breeding male

Plectrophenax nivalis

[edit] Identification

15-18 cm. The breeding male has all white plumage and a black back; the breeding female is grey-black where the male is solid black. In winter plumage, both sexes are mottled pale ginger, blackish and white above, and pale ginger and white below, with the males having more white than the females. The bill is yellow with a black tip, all black in summer males.

[edit] Similar species

McKay's Bunting in Alaska is very similar but generally whiter.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by postcardcv
Female/Winter

Found on the tundra of the northern hemisphere in North America and Eurasia. Winter visitor in Britain & Ireland (mostly mid Sep-Apr), mainly from Scandinavia and Greenland, but small numbers breed in Scotland.

[edit] Taxonomy

Four subspecies recognized:

• P. n. nivalis in North America and northern Europe
• P. n. insulae on Iceland
• P. n. vlasowae in northeast Asia
• P. n. townsendi on western Aleutian islands and some east Siberian island.

[edit] Habitat

Breeds on tundra in the north and on high mountain tops with similar habitat further south. Winters largely on sandy and shingle coasts, salt marsh and rough coastal fields.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes weed and grass seeds, and insects.

It builds an open cup of moss and grass, lined with fine grasses, rootlets, and fur and feathers which is placed well back in cavity in rocks, such as cracks.

2-7 creamy white, with variable brown spots and scrawls, eggs are laid.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] External Links