Green Spotlight on the Snow Bunting, the heartiest land bird in the world
When winter comes, many migratory birds head south to neotropical regions. But to some birds, the warmth of Canada and Northern US States like Wisconsin and Maine top the list of winter destinations. Snow buntings also summer in Northern climates across the globe. The Snow Bunting isn't spotted frequently in many of the Northern States, but they are endemic and arrive about the same time as the more commonly sighted Juncos.
In mid to late September, Snow Buntings leave their Arctic breeding grounds and fly to southern Canada and the northern United States. They breed further north than any other land bird. Their appearance as soft white and black or caramel (juvenile) fluff belies their tough nature.
During the winter, Snow Buntings hunker down in a variety of open lands in the northern Great Lakes region, including farmland, beaches, coastal fields and roadsides. They birds are ground feeders and eat on seeds, leaf buds and insects.
Snow buntings survive the cold by burrowing into snow during frigid weather. Invite them to your yard with Oat, groats, cracked corn, white millet, and by keeping a native garden that will harbor seeds and insects that the bunting has no trouble finding by burrowing into the snow. They enjoy the native grass and perennial gardens all winter long.
The buntings will head north in March or April as we turn southward to welcome the return of our summer visitors.
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