hwggaek, snowbirds or snowbuntings

This week, we were visited by a flock of about thirty hwggaek, snowbirds or snowbuntings. Males migrate north to their breeding grounds on the tundra 3-4 weeks ahead of females so they can claim a good nesting spot in a rocky crevice. Adult breeding males are entirely white on their chests and cheeks, but these birds were in between with some brown marks. The change from brownish to pure white happens when males rub their bellies and heads on the snow, wearing down the brown feather tips to reveal white feathers below.