Photo: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
McKay’s Bunting
Plectrophenax hyperboreus
McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is a member of the Calcariidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 54.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Calcariidae Longspurs, Snow Buntings
- Genus Plectrophenax
- Species hyperboreus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 54.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Calcariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The McKay’s Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The McKay’s Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is a member of the Calcariidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA w Alaska.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 54.5 g, with a wing length of about 11.1 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5,375 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the McKay’s Bunting?
The McKay’s Bunting is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 54.5 g.
Where does the McKay’s Bunting live?
The McKay’s Bunting is found across North America with a range covering NA w Alaska, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the McKay’s Bunting belong to?
The McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) belongs to the Calcariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the McKay’s Bunting eat?
The McKay’s Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the McKay’s Bunting migrate?
The McKay’s Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the McKay’s Bunting endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the McKay’s Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the McKay’s Bunting — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the McKay’s Bunting's range?
The McKay’s Bunting has a mapped global range of about 5,375 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Calcariidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.