ID Time again

[DTro]

I can't say I've ever seen a bird like this out in the middle of a huge lake like Mille Lacs in the winter. What is it?

[goblueM]

Snow Bunting

[DTro]

cool thanks!

[MN Shutterbug]

Yep, never seen one is "person", though.

[Dbl]

Saw a lot of them this weekend. They look cool in their flocks!

[timjones]

Had two flocks of them around our place this winter. First time we had them. One flock was 60-80 birds and the other was 30-40. They sure eat a lot of food. Both of those left about a week ago and another smaller flock showed up two days ago. Probably passing through heading back to the arctic.

www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2451307/Bird_ID#Post2451307

[B. Amish]

in areas around NW mn, i've seen flocks of snow buntings in the thousands.

[finnbay]

Been a funny winter for some birds. Got to see a couple of the buntings a couple of weeks ago. This is a flock shot from two springs ago as they were on their way through north:

[half-dutch]

I can't say I have seen thousands, but they are common in the winter, at least down into NW Iowa. They were always around then in the depths of winter when I was a kid some 50 years ago, and they still are. They are never alone then. If you see one in winter, it is always a part of a flock.

[MN Shutterbug]

Maybe I do see them and just don't realize it. I always assume it's horned larks along the roads. Maybe not all the time.

[Dotch]

The snow buntings were here during the depths of the cold during January and February. Would see them almost daily on the drive in to work. Now what I'm seeing is horned larks along the roads. Wow, that's a real unique photo finnbay. Have never seen them close to water and all the action there is fun to sort out.