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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis) W |
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RANGE: Breeds in Arctic tundra from northern
Alaska to Prince Patrick and northern Ellesmere islands, south
to extreme northwestern British Columbia, east-central
Mackenzie, central and southeastern Keewatin, and northern
Labrador. Winters from west-central and southern Alaska and
southern Canada south to California, Colorado, Missouri, and
North Carolina, casually farther south.
STATUS: Common.
HABITAT: Breeds in rough, rocky Arctic tundra with scattered
vegetation. Prefers stony beaches, rocky escarpments, and
cliffs, occurring less commonly in grassy tundra. In winter,
inhabits open country, along lake shores, beaches, and
roadsides, and grassy, weedy, or stubble fields.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Rocky areas with sparse
vegetation.
NEST: Nearly always places nest in a hole or cranny, in a
variety of natural and artificial sites, often a foot or more
back in narrow rock crevices under loose rocks on the ground.
May place nest in a depression or in cracks in the ground if
other sites are lacking but rarely exposed on open ground.
FOOD: In winter, primarily eats seeds of weeds and grasses
gleaned from the tips of plants and the surface of the snow.
Adds insects and spiders to the diet during summer.
REFERENCES: DeGraff et al. 1980, Forbush and May 1955, Miller
1999, Parmelee in Bent 1968c, Shunk 2004, Sutton and Parmelee
1954b. |
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