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McKay's Bunting

Plectrophenax hyperboreusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Breeding Location:

Rocky cliffs, Beaches, coastal



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Uncommon to fairly common



Egg Color:

Pale green with light brown spots



Number of Eggs:

3 - 5



Incubation Days:

10 - 16



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Lined with fine grasses., Grasses



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

McKay's Bunting: Large bunting, bright white body, black wing tips, black markings on back and tail. Large bill, legs, and feet are black. Said to be the whitest of all North American songbirds. Forages on ground. Swift flight, alternates raping wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

McKay's Bunting: Breeds on Hall and Saint Matthew islands in Bering Sea. Spends winters east to coast of western Alaska and Nunivak Island. Nests on tundra; found along coastal shores in winter.

Breeding and Nesting

McKay's Bunting: Three to five pale green eggs with light brown spots are laid in a nest made of grass and lined with finer materials. Incubation ranges from 10 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

McKay's Bunting: Eats seeds, spiders, flowers, buds, and insects; forages on the ground.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit

Vocalization

McKay's Bunting: Song is a loud, trilled, flutelike warbling. Call is abrasive "tew."

Similar Species

McKay's Bunting: Snow Bunting breeding adult has a black or gray back, and more black on wings and tail. Female has a red-brown rump. In winter plumage shows more black on wings and tail, more black streaking on upperparts, and more of a red-brown wash on underparts.

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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Plectrophenax hyperboreus
Length6.25 - 7.25 Inches
Wingspan12.5 Inches

McKay's Bunting

McKay's Bunting: Large bunting, bright white body, black wing tips, black markings on back and tail. Large bill, legs, and feet are black. Said to be the whitest of all North American songbirds. Forages on ground. Swift flight, alternates raping wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "tew"

● Foraging & Feeding: McKay's Bunting: Eats seeds, spiders, flowers, buds, and insects; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: McKay's Bunting: Three to five pale green eggs with light brown spots are laid in a nest made of grass and lined with finer materials. Incubation ranges from 10 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: McKay's Bunting: Snow Bunting breeding adult has a black or gray back, and more black on wings and tail. Female has a red-brown rump. In winter plumage shows more black on wings and tail, more black streaking on upperparts, and more of a red-brown wash on underparts.

Flight Pattern

Swift flight with series of rapid wing beats alternating with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
McKay's Bunting Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: McKay's Bunting: Breeds on Hall and Saint Matthew islands in Bering Sea. Spends winters east to coast of western Alaska and Nunivak Island. Nests on tundra; found along coastal shores in winter.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationUncommon to fairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.9 Ounces