Snow Bunting

Snow buntings are hardy songbirds with a circumpolar breeding distribution in Arctic North America, Greenland and Eurasia. Their black-and-white breeding plumage becomes browner during winter as pale feather edges conceal the darker pattern. They nest in rocky tundra, often reaching breeding areas while snow still covers much of the ground. Outside the breeding season, flocks move south into exposed fields, shorelines, grasslands and other open landscapes. (Animal Diversity Web)

Seeds and plant material dominate the winter diet, while insects become especially important during breeding and are fed to growing chicks. Nests are concealed deeply within rock cracks or other cavities, protecting them from severe weather but requiring adults to make repeated flights with food. Females perform most incubation, while males provision them and help feed the young. Dense winter flocks forage while walking or running across open ground. (Animal Diversity Web)