Snow Buntings at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 23, 2018

One of my birding stops on Milwaukee’s lakefront produced a small flock of 3 Snow Buntings. 1st of the year for me so that was a real treat. They fed in a gravel area finding and eating grass or weed seeds. They are a stunning-beautiful bird anytime of year, and today they were just that. I hung around for awhile and took a few shots to share. A few walkers in the area flushed the Snow Buntings not knowingly but the birds returned after a few minutes and continued to eat weed or grass seeds. It was a beautiful morning out with full sun, low winds and temps in the upper 40’s at the time I was there. Images were taken on October 23, 2018.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Binomial name: Plectrophenax nivalis

Category: Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Size: 6.75” long, 14” wing span

Weight:  1.5 oz

Note: An arctic breeder that winters in the northern US and western Canada

Snow Bunting eating seeds…

The Snow Bunting looking for seeds in the gravel…

Removing the seed from the old grass stalk…

Two of them…

Something in the bill, a seed I’m sure…

The Snow Bunting eyes up the seed on this old stalk…

Then it takes the seed and eats it…

Eating more seeds…

Looking for seeds in the gravel…

The beauty in the back…they blend in so well in their surroundings…

A little fluffed up here…

Perched pretty…

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About admin

Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

7 Responses to Snow Buntings at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 23, 2018

  1. Patsy Maga says:

    You’re right… A lovely little bird! Do they stay in our area during the winter? We looked for them at Killsnake and Billion, without any luck. But, did see a Ruddy Turnstone and American Pipit at North Point today…life birds for us.

  2. John M says:

    Great photos, Jim, as usual.

  3. Annie says:

    They are so fun to watch. Great pics

  4. Kathi Johnson Rock says:

    Nice Jim—would love to see this bird someday.

  5. Nan Wisherd says:

    Busy little pretty birds. Thanks, Jim.

  6. Cathy (Ben Goss Club) says:

    Oh my, I need to get down there, I’ll be on 12th and Wisconsin Avenue and hopefully after church on Sunday I can see these guys. Hopefully there will be no rain. I’ve been birding for how long? I have always wanted to see these guys,….it will be a Life Bird for me.

  7. Rita Flores Wiskowski says:

    Beautiful captures of these sweet little buntings. I love that you captured so many poses.

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