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Snow Bunting

©David Martin

Snow Bunting

©Amy Lewis

Snow Bunting

©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Snow bunting

Only a few pairs of snow bunting breed here, so look out for this striking black-and-white bird in winter around Scotland, the North West and the East coast of England.

Enw gwyddonol

Plectrophenax nivalis

Pryd i'w gweld

January to December

Species information

Ystadegau

Length: 16cm
Wingspan: 35cm
Weight: 35-42g
Average lifespan: 3 years
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Cynefinoedd

Ynghylch

The snow bunting is a sparrow-sized bird that breeds in the Arctic (from Scandinavia to Canada), and winters in the UK, mainly around the coast. There are also some resident snow buntings in the UK, which breed in Scotland. Snow buntings build their nests in rock crevices on bare mountain slopes or rocky shores and lay four to six eggs.

Sut i'w hadnabod

Black and white during the summer, snow buntings become buffy and streaky in the winter. However, when they fly, snow buntings still look black and white, with white patches on the wings and black wingtips.

Dosbarthiad

Breeds in small numbers in the Scottish Highlands. Winters around the coasts of northern and eastern UK.

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

There are about 60 pairs of resident snow buntings that breed in Scotland. In winter, they are joined by 10-15,000 visiting birds.