Date: 9/14/25 9:15 am From: Pete Sole <pete...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: possible Snow Bunting at Sunset Beach campground
Hi birders,
First, thanks to all of the responders. The consensus is that the
photographed bird is a leucistic bird. Likely a Dark-eyed Junco, maybe
Towhee, or something else. Whatever it is, NOT a Snow Bunting. 🙂
Fun bird to try to figure out! If nothing else, it reinforces at least
for me, the need to pay attention to the structure of the bird, as much
as the coloring of the plumage.
Good birding,
Pete
On 9/13/25 9:32 PM, <chucao...> wrote:
>
> Pete
>
> Snow Buntings are really different in shape from this, rotund,
> long-winged an short tailed critters. You also tend to have a hard
> time seeing their legs. This is a leucistic/amelanic common species,
> like you mention it looks good for a Junco.
>
> Alvaro
>
> Alvaro Jaramillo
>
> <alvaro...> <mailto:<alvaro...> >
> www.alvarosadventures.com <http://www.alvarosadventures.com> >
> *From:*<mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> *On Behalf
> Of *Pete Sole
> *Sent:* Saturday, September 13, 2025 5:25 PM
> *To:* David Suddjian <dsuddjian...>
> *Cc:* MBB Monterey Bay Birds <mbbirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: possible Snow Bunting at Sunset Beach
> campground
>
> Hi folks,
>
> Attached/inline is the image mentioned below. Please note, this is not
> my image.
>
> Pete
>
> On 9/13/25 2:19 PM, David Suddjian wrote:
>
> Hi Pete,
>
> Can you share the photo on MBB?
>
> David
>
> On Sat, Sep 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM Pete Sole <pete...>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Janna,
>
> Thanks for reaching out. This looks like a very intriguing
> bird. I might
> be able to go check it out today. I think it is quite likely a
> Snow
> bunting, an adult male molting out of it's breeding plumage into
> non-breeding plumage. Another possibility I can't discount
> quite yet, is
> a partially Leucistic (white/missing pigment) junco. But my
> sense is
> that it IS a bunting.
>
> Tell your friend that it's quite a find! (Even it if turns out
> to be
> some common Leucistic bird.)
>
> If he can send or post to "mbb Monterey Bay Birds
> <mbbirds...>" as a possible find, the local birding
> community will be able to weigh in.
>
> Very nice bird!
>
> Pete
>
>
> On 9/13/25 1:49 PM, Janna Pauser wrote:
> > A friend sent me a photo of a possible Snow Bunting while
> camping at
> > Sunset State Beach campground 9-10 and 11.
> >
> > I gave him your email and told him to send you the photo.
> Sorry I am
> > not tec. savvy but I took a photo with my camera and
> attached it.
> >
> > Look for text from Doug, but he is shy and may not contact you.
> >
> > Janna Pauser
> > San Jose
>
>
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