colorín nevado

1. Bird Name: Known in the common tongue as the Snow Bunting and in the scholarly Latin as Plectrophenax nivalis.

2. Appearance: Snow Buntings stand out with their contrasted black and white plumage. Adult males in summer exhibit a distinguished white-body contrasted with a black back. On the other hand, females and younger male Snow Buntings are more muted in color, predominantly a mix of light brown and white with a black tail. Both genders carry a sharp, pointed beak reflecting their seed-eating habits, and their eyes are dark against the Arctic backdrop, where their colors offer camouflage in the snowy landscapes.

3. Size: Snow Buntings are relatively small birds, averaging in length between 15 to 18 cm (6–7 in). Their wingspan typically ranges from 32 to 38 cm (13–15 in) and they typically weigh between 30 to 50 g (1–1.8 oz).

4. Habitat & Distribution: Noted for their cold-weather resilience, Snow Buntings nest in the Arctic tundra Shifting habitats with seasons, in winter, they migrate to the northern areas of the United States and Eurasia. They prefer open habitats like fields and coastal areas during the winter season.

5. Interesting Facts: In an engaging display of parental role reversals, it is the male Snow Buntings who finalize the nest building. Also noteworthy is their annual migration range. Snow Buntings are known for traveling massive distances: from their Arctic breeding grounds to temperate winter areas, a journey that can exceed 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) round trip!

6. Diet: These birds have a diet dominantly consisting of seeds in winter, complemented by insects sourced during summer.

7. Behavior & Sounds: Snow Buntings have an intriguing flight pattern. With a swift and direct flight, usually flying low and careening from side to side, the Snow Bunting’s flapping wingbeats are interspersed with glides. The male’s song, performed during courtship flights, is a sweet, twittering warble.

8. Conservation Status: The current conservation status according to the IUCN Red List is “Least Concern.” Population numbers are generally stable, although a local decline in North America postulates the need for further investigation.

9. Lifespan: Snow Buntings have an average lifespan of up to 9 years in the wild, given a healthy habitat and optimal conditions.

10. Additional Notes: In Icelandic, they are known as “Snjóthrostur” which literally translates to “snow thrush”. They play a crucial role in Arctic ecosystems, helping control insect populations and acting as a vital food source for local predators. They also interact well with humans – they show unflinching audacity when encountered in the Arctic, not hesitating to fly straight towards any human in their pathway.

The Snow Bunting, often seen as a symbol of the coming spring after long winters, has also found its way into human folklore and songs, adding a dimension of cultural richness to this tough little bird’s profile. Despite their petite size, these birds are high on resilience, a true testament to survival in harsh environments, making them an engrossingly inspiring subject of study.