The RSPB says snow buntings, a rare bird of conservation concern in the UK, are more likely to visit gardens if food is placed on the ground rather than in conventional feeders. These birds favour feeding on the ground, which means they may pass by standard bird feeders in search of a more suitable dining spot.
Why Ground Feeding Matters
While scattering seeds and dried insects can tempt birds to visit, enticing snow buntings depends largely on where the food is put. According to the RSPB, these uncommon birds prefer to feed on the ground, so leaving food in that area could encourage them to stop by.
Snow buntings are currently classified as an Amber List species, indicating they are of conservation concern across the UK. Those living near upland areas, coastal regions, or farmland may be fortunate enough to see them during the winter months.
How to Identify Snow Buntings
The RSPB describes snow buntings as "large buntings, with striking 'snowy' plumages". A statement adds: "Males in summer have all white heads and underparts contrasting with a black mantle and wing tips. Females are a more mottled above."
In autumn and winter, birds develop a sandy/buff wash to their plumage, and males have more mottled upperparts. Globally, they breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada, and Greenland and migrate south in winter. They are a scarce breeding species in the UK, in Scotland, making them an Amber List species. They are more widespread in winter in the north and east when residents are joined by continental birds. They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, making it illegal to disturb snow buntings.
Feeding Garden Birds in Winter
Regarding feeding garden birds between 1 November and 30 April, the RSPB advises providing bird food and water throughout winter and spring, when naturally occurring food sources become scarcer. It recommends offering seeds, peanuts, suet, and mealworms during the colder months, when the risk of trichomonosis is reduced.
The RSPB also suggests modifying the quantity of food supplied to match demand and ensuring uneaten food doesn't accumulate. Food in feeders should be consumed within one to two days, while suet should be eaten within seven days. Old food should be cleared away before replenishing feeders, and water should be changed daily.
