McKay's bunting
Plectrophenax hyperboreus
McKay's bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is a passerine bird in the longspur family Calcariidae.
About the McKay's bunting
McKay's bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is a passerine bird in the longspur family Calcariidae. It is most closely related to the snow bunting (P. nivalis). Hybrids between the two species have been observed, leading some authorities to treat McKay's as a subspecies of the snow bunting. As the Plectrophenax buntings are nested within the Calcarius clade, their closest relatives are the longspurs. McKay's bunting breeds on two islands in the Bering Sea, St. Matthew and Hall islands, and winters on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska.
Fun Facts About McKay's bunting
- McKay's bunting breeds on two islands in the Bering Sea, St.
- As the Plectrophenax buntings are nested within the Calcarius clade, their closest relatives are the longspurs.
Conservation Status
The McKay's bunting is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.
Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | passerines |
| Family | Emberizidae |
| Genus | Plectrophenax |
| Species | Plectrophenax hyperboreus |
Range & Habitat
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