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Distribution
Snow Bunting   Plectrophenax nivalis
The only common passerine species on Svalbard. Most numerous on fertile ground and particularly on west Spitsbergen, in fjord areas, and vegetated parts of south-east Spitsbergen and on Bjørnøya. 

Features:  16-17 cm. In size slightly larger than House Sparrow. Easily recognizable  by the large white wing patches, seen well in flight. Can hardly be confused with other species on Svalbard, but note that young birds that have recently left the nest are mainly brown. The Snow Bunting is almost the only singing passerine on Svalbard. Sings from early May until July. The song is short with clear flute-like and twittering sounds. In flight a single contact call «pyui» often followed by a characteristic short bubbling trill. Display flight is common.

​Breeding: The nest is built well hidden in cavities, often in screes and crevices in rocks. It is built of straws and other parts of plants. The nest cup is insulated with down (often from Ptarmigan) and hair from foxes and reindeer.


Recent observations
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  • Home
  • Hjem
  • Bird observations
    • Recent photos
  • Species
    • Regular breeding birds >
      • Brent Goose
      • Barnacle Goose
      • Pink-footed Goose
      • King Eider
      • Common Eider
      • Long-tailed Duck
      • Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan
      • Ringed Plover
      • Ruddy Turnstone
      • Dunlin
      • Purple Sandpiper
      • Grey Phalarope
      • Black-legged Kittiwake
      • Ivory Gull
      • Great Black-backed Gull
      • Glaucous Gull
      • Arctic Tern
      • Great Skua
      • Arctic Skua
      • Little Auk
      • Brünnich's Guillemot
      • Common Guillemot
      • Razorbill
      • Black Guillemot
      • Atlantic Puffin
      • Red-throated Diver
      • Northern Fulmar
      • Snow Bunting
    • Scarce breeding birds >
      • Northern Pintail
      • Common Teal
      • Common Scoter
      • European Golden Plover
      • Red Knot
      • Sanderling
      • Red-necked Phalarope
      • Sabine's Gull
      • Common Gull
      • European Herring Gull
      • Lesser Black-backed Gull
      • Long-tailed Skua
      • Great Northern Diver
      • Northern Gannet
      • Redwing
      • Northern Wheatear
      • Meadow Pipit
      • Lapland Bunting
    • Annual non-breeders >
      • Canada Goose
      • Cackling Goose
      • Snow Goose
      • Greylag Goose
      • Bean Goose
      • Greater White-fronted Goose
      • Whooper Swan
      • Eurasian Wigeon
      • Mallard
      • Tufted Duck
      • Steller's Eider
      • Common Goldeneye
      • Red-breasted Merganser
      • Eurasian Oystercatcher
      • Whimbrel
      • Pectoral Sandpiper
      • Common Snipe
      • Common Redshank
      • Black-headed Gull
      • Ross's Gull
      • Iceland Gull
      • Pomarine Skua
      • Snowy Owl
      • Gyrfalcon
      • Bohemian Waxwing
      • Barn Swallow
      • Song Trush
      • Common Blackbird
      • Fieldfare
      • White Wagtail
      • Common Redpoll
      • Arctic Redpoll
  • About
  • Contact
  • Fugleobservasjoner
    • Siste bilder
  • Arter
    • Vanlige hekkefugler >
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      • Hvitkinngås
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    • Fåtallige hekkefugler >
      • Stjertand
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      • Sabinemåke
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      • Fjelljo
      • Islom
      • Havsule
      • Rødvingetrost
      • Steinskvett
      • Heipiplerke
      • Lappspurv
    • Årlige ikke-hekkende >
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      • Stellerand
      • Kvinand
      • Siland
      • Tjeld
      • Småspove
      • Alaskasnipe
      • Enkeltbekkasin
      • Rødstilk
      • Hettemåke
      • Rosenmåke
      • Grønlandsmåke
      • Polarjo
      • Snøugle
      • Jaktfalk
      • Sidensvans
      • Låvesvale
      • Måltrost
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  • Om
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