Happy Mondo Missy Monday, animal lovers!
Thanks for checking out another edition of Missy's Blog. We're still your premiere source for fun and informative pet topics--and I'm still your host, J.
Before we get off into today's post, I just wanted to say that I did think about doing some more Missy Show episodes on our YouTube channel for Christmas in July, but D wasn't going to be able to join me this month, (and we've had some other stuff going on), so we just decided to wait until October to pick back up with actual live shows, when it's time for October Pet Spooktacular.
But until then, we shall carry on with our blog posts as scheduled. And speaking of blog posts, today kicks off the first post of our last week of Christmas in July. My how time flies...
Anyhoo...on with today's topic--The Snow Bunting and the Snowshoe Hare.
Today's Snow Bunting information is provided courtesy of Animalia.bio and our Snowshoe Hare info is provided by activewild.com.
http://animalia.bio/snow-bunting
https://www.activewild.com/snowshoe-hare-facts/
First things first:
The Snow Bunting...
This cute little arctic bird is also known as a snow flake, (even its nickname is cute):
The Snow bunting is appropriately named, being a bird of the Arctic and snowy winter fields. The mostly white feathers of a flock of buntings brings to mind the idea of a snowstorm even on a day that is warm. They are sometimes called "snowflakes," and flocks of them seem like snowflakes, swirling through the air and settling on winter fields. Snow buntings south of the Arctic are strictly winter birds, which arrive in late fall, usually departing at the start of spring. They spend summer in the barren northern tundra. In certain high Arctic communities they nest in birdhouses that people put out for them.
Snow buntings are the world's most northerly passerine bird, and the only passerine that has an extensive breeding distribution in Svalbard.
Now for the cutest of the cute--The Snow Shoe Hare...
The Snowshoe Hare (Lepus Americanus) is a forest dwelling hare found in the Boreal and Coniferous forests of North America. Its range extends from the shores of the Arctic Ocean south through the higher elevations of the Rocky, Appalachian, and Cascade Mountain ranges.
Thanks for checking out another edition of Missy's Blog. We're still your premiere source for fun and informative pet topics--and I'm still your host, J.
Before we get off into today's post, I just wanted to say that I did think about doing some more Missy Show episodes on our YouTube channel for Christmas in July, but D wasn't going to be able to join me this month, (and we've had some other stuff going on), so we just decided to wait until October to pick back up with actual live shows, when it's time for October Pet Spooktacular.
But until then, we shall carry on with our blog posts as scheduled. And speaking of blog posts, today kicks off the first post of our last week of Christmas in July. My how time flies...
Anyhoo...on with today's topic--The Snow Bunting and the Snowshoe Hare.
Today's Snow Bunting information is provided courtesy of Animalia.bio and our Snowshoe Hare info is provided by activewild.com.
http://animalia.bio/snow-bunting
https://www.activewild.com/snowshoe-hare-facts/
First things first:
The Snow Bunting...
This cute little arctic bird is also known as a snow flake, (even its nickname is cute):
The Snow bunting is appropriately named, being a bird of the Arctic and snowy winter fields. The mostly white feathers of a flock of buntings brings to mind the idea of a snowstorm even on a day that is warm. They are sometimes called "snowflakes," and flocks of them seem like snowflakes, swirling through the air and settling on winter fields. Snow buntings south of the Arctic are strictly winter birds, which arrive in late fall, usually departing at the start of spring. They spend summer in the barren northern tundra. In certain high Arctic communities they nest in birdhouses that people put out for them.
Distribution
Snow buntings breed in the high Arctic, in Scandinavia, Iceland, northern Scotland, Russia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland. Usually these birds migrate south for winter, those in North America going to southern Canada, to the southern and western coasts of Alaska, and to the USA's Great Plains. Birds outside of North America winter in southern Scandinavia, Western Europe, and through central Asia. This species breeds on rocky open tundra, on sea cliffs and sometimes in human settlements, preferring areas with boulder fields and rocky outcrops, and usually avoiding the wet tundra. In winter, they are found in open lowland country, such as stubble fields, steppes, short grass prairies, farmland, grassy sand dunes, lake shores and beaches.
Habits and Lifestyle
Snow buntings are diurnal and social birds. They migrate in big flocks which look as though they are in constant motion, as birds at the back fly over birds in front, a constant cycle. There is a clear hierarchy in these flocks, adult birds being dominant over birds experiencing their first winter, and males dominant over females. The flocks in winter usually are made up only of Snow buntings. In other seasons they may include pipits, Lapland longspurs and horned larks. To cope with -40 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures and stay warm, snow buntings burrow deep down into the snow. They enjoy bathing in snow. These birds forage either on the ground or within low vegetation by hopping, walking or running. They also catch flying insects and burrow into the snow for food. Their call is used mainly when mating.
Fun Facts about Buntings:
Snow buntings are the world's most northerly passerine bird, and the only passerine that has an extensive breeding distribution in Svalbard.
The Snow bunting, unlike most passerines, has feathered tarsi, being an adaptation to the harsh environment. Other passerines cannot winter as far in the north as this species, except for the common raven.
The collective name for a group of Snow buntings is a "drift" of buntings.
Although there are big differences in appearance between breeding and non-breeding males, Snow buntings have only one molt per year and no real "alternate plumage." After molting in late summer, males look brownish and have a black and brown striped back. Underneath their colored feather tips, their back feathers are fully black and their body feathers are all white. Males wear off all the feather tips by rubbing them against the snow, until they are jet black and immaculate white when breeding time comes around.
Snow buntings signal the coming of winter for people living in the south where they migrate to, but are a harbinger of spring for those who live in the Arctic.
For more info about these cute little guys click here.
Now for the cutest of the cute--The Snow Shoe Hare...
The Snowshoe Hare (Lepus Americanus) is a forest dwelling hare found in the Boreal and Coniferous forests of North America. Its range extends from the shores of the Arctic Ocean south through the higher elevations of the Rocky, Appalachian, and Cascade Mountain ranges.
Scientific Stuff
Hares (and jackrabbits) are animals belonging to the genus Lepus. They are in the Leporidae family, which includes all rabbits and hares.
Snowshoe Hares are larger than most species of rabbits and hares. Compared to other hares, Snowshoe Hares have longer hind legs, smaller ears, and large, furry feet.
Showshoe Hare Adaptations
The Snowshoe Hare’s large, furry feet act like snowshoes, allowing the animal to move on the top of deep snow. This is how the hare got its name. (It is also sometimes known as a ‘Snowshoe Rabbit’.)
The feet can be up to 18 cm (7 in) long.
As we’ll see, other adaptations for life in the cold north include a coat that changes color seasonally.
Like all hares, Snowshoe Hares are fast, nimble animals. They can jump as far as 3 meters (10 ft) in a single bound and run at bursts of 45 km per hour (28 mph).
Snowshoe hares are an important source of food for many predators. However, the hares’ high speed and acceleration mean that they’re not an easy meal!
What Does A Snowshoe Hare Look Like?
There are fourteen subspecies, but the average adult Snowshoe Hare weighs 0.9 to 1.8 kg (2 to 4 lb) in weight and is 41.3 to 51.8 cm (16 to 20.5 in) long.
Snowshoe Hares are covered in thick, layered fur that changes color with the seasons for camouflage. The Snowshoe Hare is also called a “Varying Hare” because its color varies depending on the season.
During the winter, Snowshoe Hares are snow-white, with black tips on their ears. During the spring thaw, it takes the hares ten weeks to change from white to brown.
The black tips on their ears remain all year around.
What Do Snowshoe Hares Eat?
Snowshoe Hares feed at night on barks, shrubs, grasses, and plants and require 300 grams (10.5 oz) of food a day.
They use the trail systems to quickly and nimbly escape from predators.
During the day, Snowshoe Hares are mainly sedentary (sitting and not moving very far). They hide and rest in the underbrush or in shallow holes in the ground called forms.
10 Snowshoe Hare Facts
- Snowshoe Hares live in the Northern and high altitude forests of North America.
- They have unique adaptations to their environment, such as small ears; wide, furry feet; and color changing fur for camouflage.
- Snowshoe Hares are mainly nocturnal using the cover of night to search for plants for food.
- They make, use, and maintain complex systems of trails for traveling though the forests.
- The natural predators of Snowshoe Hares are lynx, fox, coyote, and raptors.
- They can produce 3-24 offspring within their lifespan.
- Young hares are called “leverets” and are independent of their mother within a month of birth.
- Snowshoe Hares can jump 3 meters in a single bound and can run 45 km per hour.
- They communicate with each other through thumping their hind legs and through a variety of vocalizations.
- Snowshoe Hares are not endangered or threatened.
To read more from this article on the Snowshoe Hare click here.
That's it for now, Missians! Be sure to check back here tomorrow for more Christmas in July hijinks.
Until then,
This is your host J,
signing off...
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