52 Snow Bunting

• A group of Snow Buntings are called a; Drift.
• This Drift seems to be fighting over some weed seeds.
• Snow Buntings have a winter plumage seen above with a tan coloration to it and a summer coat seen below, a beautiful black and white. (male).  It only molts once a year in the fall.  The tan coloration is warn off by the male rubbing in the snow before breeding season.  (Wonder if rubbing in snow could get rid of some of my grey hair?)
• The male is very tentative to the female. He will leave for the north, where they breed, at the end of March well before other birds are returning and sets up a nest and defends its territory for 4-6 weeks until the female arrives.  Temperatures can be -30 C. Yikes.  Only one other bird is know to tolerate this cold the Raven and known to winter in coastal Alaska.
• Because they nest in the far north in rocky outcrops the female must stay with the nest to keep eggs warm.  The male brings her food and cares for her.  I like this guy even though we only get to see them on the prairie in the winter.

• Snow Buntings are also known as Snow Flakes.