Sometimes we are lucky enough to see flocks of snow buntings arrive at our property. The little white birds, about the size of common sparrows, spend their summers in the Arctic tundra. Snow buntings travel further north than any other perching/song bird. In the winter they might be seen in southern Canada. These birds can also be found in Europe, but since they prefer the northern extremes they are rarely seen in the populated regions.
When flocks of snow buntings arrive they make a spectacular display in flight. Flocks maintain tight formation and the bright white fluttering in the air looks like a flurry of confetti. They make recognizable chirps as they fly. Those chirps alert me to look up so I can spot the little cloud of flashing white wings. If the flock lands on our property they usually like to forage for seeds wherever the snow has been cleared. They specially like to visit our cleared driveway a few times each year before heading to or from the Arctic.
