First-cycle Male Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) in Formative Plumage - Richmond, BC
Snow Buntings go through an interesting moult process. They leave the nest in juvenile plumage and then moult into formative plumage. They do not go through any pre-alternate moult. Breeding plumage is attained through feather wear only. After the breeding season, they will go through a prebasic moult the following year. They will then only moult once a year after that. Therefore, with the rust still present on this bird, the juvenal flight feathers retained, white central tail feathers, the incomplete black back, and the yellow bill, this is a first-cycle male in formative plumage. After feather wear occurs, he will be in breeding or alternate plumage, with a black bill, black central tail feathers, a striking black back and no rust feathers present anywhere. We rarely get to see Snow Buntings in Vancouver in this plumage, so it was a real treat to see this brilliant white beauty on the Iona jetty. This bird was found by Alex Dobrzanski on March 25th.
First-cycle Male Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) in Formative Plumage - Richmond, BC
Snow Buntings go through an interesting moult process. They leave the nest in juvenile plumage and then moult into formative plumage. They do not go through any pre-alternate moult. Breeding plumage is attained through feather wear only. After the breeding season, they will go through a prebasic moult the following year. They will then only moult once a year after that. Therefore, with the rust still present on this bird, the juvenal flight feathers retained, white central tail feathers, the incomplete black back, and the yellow bill, this is a first-cycle male in formative plumage. After feather wear occurs, he will be in breeding or alternate plumage, with a black bill, black central tail feathers, a striking black back and no rust feathers present anywhere. We rarely get to see Snow Buntings in Vancouver in this plumage, so it was a real treat to see this brilliant white beauty on the Iona jetty. This bird was found by Alex Dobrzanski on March 25th.