Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Male McKay's Bunting Foraging on Snow

By Alaska Science Center
Snow covered ground brown pieces of vegetation poking out. On right, white bird black markings on wings, black bill and legs.
Original Thumbnail Medium

Detailed Description

The McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is endemic to the Bering Sea Region and only breeds on St. Matthew and Hall islands. Designated as a species of high conservation concern due to its small population size, surveys show that the species has continued to decline since the initial survey effort in 2003.
 

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.

Photo taken by Laura McDuffie, U.S. Geological Survey. 

Related

A male McKay's Bunting songbird sitting on a rock

Landbird Research in Alaska

On this page, learn about USGS work with the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS), Beak Deformities in Landbirds, and Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF).
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Landbird Research in Alaska

Landbird Research in Alaska

On this page, learn about USGS work with the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS), Beak Deformities in Landbirds, and Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF).
Learn More

Data for Estimating McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) Population Change on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska Data for Estimating McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) Population Change on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska

This dataset consists of three tables relating to (1) detections of adult McKay's Buntings from line transect with distance estimation surveys on St. Matthew and Hall islands in Alaska between May 30 and June 29, 2003 and June 6 and 11, 2018, (2) environmental covariates associated with detections of adult McKay's Buntings in less than or equal to 250-m long contiguous transect segments...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

Rapid population decline in McKay's Bunting, an Alaskan endemic, highlights the species’ current status relative to international standards for vulnerable species Rapid population decline in McKay's Bunting, an Alaskan endemic, highlights the species’ current status relative to international standards for vulnerable species

The McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is endemic to Alaska, breeds solely on the remote and uninhabited St. Matthew and Hall islands (332 km2) in the central Bering Sea, and is designated as a species of high conservation concern due to its small population size and restricted range. A previous hypothesized population estimate (~2,800—6,000 individuals) was greatly increased (...
Authors
Rachel M. Richardson, Courtney L. Amundson, James A. Johnson, Marc D. Romano, Audrey R. Taylor, Michael D. Fleming, Steven M. Matsuoka
By
Alaska Science Center
Video of Rare Birds Breeding on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

Video of Rare Birds Breeding on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

A video produced by Andy Johnson with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology highlights collaborative research conducted on St. Matthew Island within the...

Read Article

Related

A male McKay's Bunting songbird sitting on a rock

Landbird Research in Alaska

On this page, learn about USGS work with the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS), Beak Deformities in Landbirds, and Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF).
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Landbird Research in Alaska

Landbird Research in Alaska

On this page, learn about USGS work with the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS), Beak Deformities in Landbirds, and Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF).
Learn More

Data for Estimating McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) Population Change on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska Data for Estimating McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) Population Change on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska

This dataset consists of three tables relating to (1) detections of adult McKay's Buntings from line transect with distance estimation surveys on St. Matthew and Hall islands in Alaska between May 30 and June 29, 2003 and June 6 and 11, 2018, (2) environmental covariates associated with detections of adult McKay's Buntings in less than or equal to 250-m long contiguous transect segments...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

Rapid population decline in McKay's Bunting, an Alaskan endemic, highlights the species’ current status relative to international standards for vulnerable species Rapid population decline in McKay's Bunting, an Alaskan endemic, highlights the species’ current status relative to international standards for vulnerable species

The McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is endemic to Alaska, breeds solely on the remote and uninhabited St. Matthew and Hall islands (332 km2) in the central Bering Sea, and is designated as a species of high conservation concern due to its small population size and restricted range. A previous hypothesized population estimate (~2,800—6,000 individuals) was greatly increased (...
Authors
Rachel M. Richardson, Courtney L. Amundson, James A. Johnson, Marc D. Romano, Audrey R. Taylor, Michael D. Fleming, Steven M. Matsuoka
By
Alaska Science Center
Video of Rare Birds Breeding on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

Video of Rare Birds Breeding on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

A video produced by Andy Johnson with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology highlights collaborative research conducted on St. Matthew Island within the...

Read Article
Was this page helpful?