Snow Bunting: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Little Songbirds · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. Snow buntings catch spiders basking in the sun by tossing rocks around. Now and then they also snap up insects in flight.
2. Unlike most passerines, snow buntings have feathered tarsi, which insulate their lower legs against the Arctic cold.
3. Males arrive at the start of April, even at -30 °C. Females follow four to six weeks later.
4. Snow buntings migrate at night, using a magnetic sense instead of visual landmarks to find their way.
5. They fly in big flocks that can number into the hundreds.

The quiz

1. What do snow buntings toss around to catch basking spiders?

• Seeds
• Twigs
• Stones (correct)
• Snowballs

They toss rocks around to catch spiders basking in the sun.

2. What insulates a snow bunting's lower legs?

• Feathered tarsi (correct)
• Thick scales
• A layer of fat
• Fur

Feathered tarsi insulate their lower legs.

3. When do the males arrive at the breeding grounds?

• The start of June
• The end of September
• Mid-December
• The start of April (correct)

Males arrive at the start of April, even at -30 °C.

4. What do snow buntings use to navigate at night?

• Visual landmarks
• A magnetic sense (correct)
• The sound of waves
• Their sense of smell

They use a magnetic sense instead of visual landmarks.

5. How big can snow bunting flocks get?

• Only two or three
• About a dozen
• Into the hundreds (correct)
• Always a single pair

Flocks can number into the hundreds.

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