Snowbird \Snow"bird\, n. (Zool.) (a) An arctic finch ({Plectrophenax nivalis} syn. {Plectrophanes nivalis}) common, in winter, both in Europe and the United States, and often appearing in large flocks during snowstorms. It is partially white, but variously marked with chestnut and brown. Called also {snow bunting}, {snowflake}, {snowfleck}, and {snowflight}. (b) Any finch of the genus {Junco} which appears in flocks in winter time, especially {Junco hyemalis} in the Eastern United States; -- called also {blue snowbird}. See {Junco}. (c) The fieldfare. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]
Junco \Jun"co\, n. (Zool.) Any bird of the genus {Junco}, which includes several species of North American finches; -- called also {snowbird}, or {blue snowbird}. [1913 Webster]