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Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Emberizidae
BTO Codes:
SB , SNOBU
EURING No:
18500
Number in Britain:
11 thousand birds (Winter)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
nivalis , insulae recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
16 cm
Wingspan:
35 cm
Weight:
M: 42 g F: 35 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: plektron =a cock's spur + phenax =impostor
and L.: nivalis =snowy (from nivus =snow)
World Distribution:
BREEDS: N Eurasia, n North America, WINTERS: south to s Europe, c Asia, s US
Habitat:
Dry tundra, rocky shores
Diet:
Mostly seeds, summer insects (esp. for young), almost always on ground
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Winter:
9000 to 14 thousand individuals
in 1981-84
Note: Best estimate
Summer:
70 to 100 pairs
in 1988-91
First Record:
1678
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
680 thousand to 1.7 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I,IV), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
22 x 16 mm
Egg Weight:
3.1 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
5
Clutch Size:
4 - 6 eggs
Incubation:
12 - 13 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
12 - 14 days
as:
Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1-2
Number Ringed:
407
Adult Survival:
0.63
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
8yr11m
(Iceland: 9yr 6m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
B
Wing Length
Adult:
106.5 ± 4.0
Range
102 - 113 mm, N =1535
Juvenile:
106.4 ± 3.1
102 - 113 mm, N =1231
Male:
110.2 ± 3.3
104 - 115 mm, N =348
Female:
105.4 ± 3.5
102 - 109 mm, N =1184
Weight
Adult:
33.04 ± 3.32
Range
28.50 - 39.00 g , N =1386
Juvenile:
31.42 ± 2.40
27.80 - 35.80 g , N =1047
Male:
35.08 ± 3.42
30.50 - 40.90 g , N =309
Female:
32.45 ± 3.05 .
28.40 - 37.70 g , N =1074
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Gealag-an-t-sneachda
Welsh:
Bras yr Eira
Danish:
Snespurv
Dutch:
Sneeuwgors
Finnish:
Pulmunen
French:
Bruant des neiges
German:
Schneeammer
Hungarian:
Hósármány
Icelandic:
Snjótittlingur
Irish:
Gealóg Shneachta
Italian:
Zigolo delle nevi
Norwegian:
Snřspurv
Polish:
Sniegula zwyczajna
Portuguese:
Escrevedeira-das-neves
Spanish:
Escribano nival
Swedish:
Snösparv
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Nethersole-Thompson, D. 1966 The snow bunting Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh
[598.992 NET]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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