{"id":2982,"date":"2014-01-14T10:15:10","date_gmt":"2014-01-14T15:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=2982"},"modified":"2014-01-14T11:34:30","modified_gmt":"2014-01-14T16:34:30","slug":"the-other-snow-bird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-other-snow-bird\/","title":{"rendered":"The Other Snow Bird"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-3125\" alt=\"Snow bunting by Dave Larson\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/11\/bunting2.jpg\" width=\"416\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/11\/bunting2.jpg 416w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/11\/bunting2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 416px) 100vw, 416px\" \/>Snowy owls have been getting a lot of attention this season, mainly due to the large influx we are seeing in the Northeast.<\/p>\n<p>These owls aren&#8217;t the only birds that prefer the comparably mild Massachusetts winter over the extreme temps in the Arctic tundra. Snow buntings\u2014sometimes known as the \u201csnowflake\u201d\u2014also vacation here.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Feathers like Snow<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>At first glance, you might confuse a flock of snow buntings for a swirl of snowflakes. These birds are brown and white when they are in non-breeding plumage, and they have luminous white patches on their wings.<\/p>\n<p>During the summer breeding season, the female snow bunting turns grayer, and the male is mostly black and white (think of a snowman studded with bits of coal). Amazingly, this species doesn\u2019t grow new feathers to achieve this look. Instead, it rubs against snow until the brown feather tips are worn away, revealing the differently-colored feather bases.<\/p>\n<h3><b>A Northern Bird<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Why do snow buntings come here for the winter? They\u2019re actually escaping harsh weather in a place much farther north: the high Arctic. Up on the tundra, they spend the warmer months raising young. They build nests heavily lined with fur, grasses, and feathers, so their chicks will stay warm on the chilly, rocky terrain.<\/p>\n<p>Once the breeding season is over, snow buntings leave the Arctic and its severe oncoming winter in favor of more hospitable lands, like the northern half of the United States. Here, you\u2019ll find flocks foraging in open grassy areas like roadsides, farmers\u2019 fields, and beaches, merrily searching for tasty seeds amongst drifts of snow.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A Bird in Trouble?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Some evidence suggests that the snow bunting population in North America may be declining sharply. Climate change and a host of resulting effects like changing amounts of snowfall may be altering this bird\u2019s Arctic home. It\u2019s another good reason to get serious about <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/our-conservation-work\/climate-change\">tackling the impacts of climate change<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Have you seen any \u201csnowflake birds\u201d in your neighborhood this year?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Photo courtesy of Dave Larson<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Snowy owls have been getting a lot of attention this season, mainly due to the large influx we are seeing in the Northeast. These owls aren&#8217;t the only birds that prefer the comparably mild Massachusetts winter over the extreme temps in the Arctic tundra. Snow buntings\u2014sometimes known as the \u201csnowflake\u201d\u2014also vacation here. Feathers like Snow [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nature-notes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-M6","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13522,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-snow-buntings\/","url_meta":{"origin":2982,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Snow Buntings","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Snow Bunting is the quintessential winter songbird visitor: they breed in the Arctic in summer, making their nests in the rocky tundra, and only visit Massachusetts when they \"fly south\" for the winter. In fact, their breeding range is so far north that it exceeds that of all other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snow Bunting \u00a9 Lee Millet","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/01\/123Lee_Millet20679.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1154,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/birding-after-migration\/","url_meta":{"origin":2982,"position":1},"title":"Birding After Migration","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"We have turned the seasonal corner. The swallows are gone, the egrets have fled, and \u00a0shorebirds and warblers have pushed their way south. You may well ask, \u201cWhat do we do we look for now?\u201d In many ways, Massachusetts is perfectly suited for winter birding, thanks in part to our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nature Notes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/11\/purple-sandpiper_Richard-Johnson-and-Mass-Audubon.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12885,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-indigo-buntings\/","url_meta":{"origin":2982,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Indigo Buntings","author":"Ryan D.","date":"July 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Take a walk through a weedy meadow or shrub-filled forest edge and there's a chance you might spot a flash of brilliant jewel blue singing boisterously from a treetop or telephone wire. Not only are male Indigo Buntings gorgeous in their azure plumage, but they are also prolific singers and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Indigo Bunting \u00a9 Amy Powers-Smith","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/07\/2795Amy_PowersSmith22956.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/07\/2795Amy_PowersSmith22956.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/07\/2795Amy_PowersSmith22956.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/07\/2795Amy_PowersSmith22956.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16884,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/species-highlight-5-birds-for-bird-a-thon\/","url_meta":{"origin":2982,"position":3},"title":"Species Highlight: 5 Birds for Bird-a-thon","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"May 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On May 13, birders from across the state will be hiking quietly through bushes, binoculars in hand, patiently waiting for a bird to come into view. Throughout the heat of the day and into the cover of darkness, these dedicated birders silently wait. Why, you may ask? All for a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds &amp; Birding&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds &amp; Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/05\/KForesto-3663-750x500-69214820-c7a7-4824-8adc-c1f5db65b2b5-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3016,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/snowy-owl-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":2982,"position":4},"title":"Snowy Owl Update","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"December 7, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Currently New England is hosting a major incursion of snowy owls, many of which will likely spend the winter in our area. Typically these Arctic visitors tend to appear most frequently near the coast, but the first report this year was inland at Mount Wachusett in Princeton on November 17.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nature Notes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy Owl copyright David Larson","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/12\/snowyowldavelarson-1024x787.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15103,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-whatcha-gonna-do-with-all-that-junco\/","url_meta":{"origin":2982,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Whatcha Gonna Do With All That Junco?","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"If you enjoy watching birds at feeders, there's a good chance you have a soft spot for these little darlings of the winter bird feeder crowd: Dark-eyed Juncos. Although there are juncos to be found in Massachusetts year-round, these \"snowbirds\" are most recognizable hopping around on the ground or in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dark-eyed Junco \u00a9 Eladi Bermudez","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/154EladiBermudez593.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/154EladiBermudez593.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/154EladiBermudez593.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/154EladiBermudez593.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2982"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3128,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions\/3128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}