McKay's Bunting

McKay's bunting, a passerine bird of the longspur family Calcariidae, is a vision of purity in its breeding plumage, particularly the male, which dons an almost entirely white ensemble save for small accents of black on the wingtips and tail. The female, while also predominantly white, exhibits a streaked back that distinguishes her during the breeding season. Outside of this period, both sexes adopt a more subdued attire with warm brown patches adorning the cheeks, crown, and neck sides.

Identification Tips

To identify McKay's bunting, one should look for a bird larger than its close relative, the snow bunting, with a length of 18 cm and an average weight of 54.5 g. The wing chord ranges from 10.1 to 12.2 cm, the tail from 6.4 to 7.5 cm, the bill from 1.1 to 1.3 cm, and the tarsus from 2 to 2.4 cm. These measurements can help distinguish it from similar species.

Habitat

The breeding habitat of McKay's bunting is quite specialized, favoring the shingle beaches of remote islands where it nests in hollow drift logs and rock crevices. In winter, it descends to coastal marshes, shingle beaches, and agricultural fields.

Distribution

This bunting is a rare gem, breeding exclusively on two islands in the Bering Sea—St. Matthew and Hall islands—and wintering along the western coast of Alaska.

Behaviour

While detailed studies are limited, it is believed that McKay's bunting shares similar feeding habits with the snow bunting. In winter, it forages for seeds from weeds and grasses, and during the summer months, it diversifies its diet with seeds, buds, and insects.

Breeding

The breeding plumage of McKay's bunting is a key indicator of the season, with males transforming into their striking white attire and females displaying a streaked back. They nest in the unique environment of shingle beaches, utilizing natural features for shelter.

Similar Species

McKay's bunting is most closely related to the snow bunting, and hybrids between the two have been observed. However, McKay's bunting is distinguishable by its larger size and whiter plumage.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of McKay's bunting is thought to mirror that of the snow bunting, with a winter diet of seeds and a summer diet that includes a mix of seeds, buds, and insects.

Conservation status

With a population estimated at fewer than 6,000 individuals, McKay's bunting is classified as Least Concern but remains vulnerable to potential threats. The introduction of predators such as rats, weasels, or foxes to its breeding islands could have devastating effects on its numbers.

This bird is named in honor of the American naturalist Charles McKay, a fitting tribute to a species that is as enigmatic as it is beautiful.