Lapland longspur Calcarius lapponicus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 5.75 inches
• Short, conical bill
• Black tail with white outer tail feathers
• Found in open areas: beaches, tundra, short grass or bare fields
• Often found in flocks
• Forages on the ground

Male alternate:

• Black crown, face, and throat bordered by white
• Chestnut nape
• Streaked back
• White underparts with black streaks on flanks
• Yellow bill
• Female in alternate plumage has semblance of male's face and throat pattern

Basic:

• Tan supercilium and cheek patch
• Cheek patch has dark border
• Dark, streaked crown
• Brownish wash to breast with streaks
• Rusty wing coverts
• Streaked back

Similar species:

In the breeding season, Lapland Longspurs are easily identified by their distinctive head pattern. In winter, they are often found in flocks with Snow Buntings or Horned Larks. They can be easily separated from those species by their streaked backs, rusty wings and face pattern. They are quite similar to the other longspur species. The Lapland Longspur has the least amount of white in the tail of any of the longspurs and is the only one with rusty wing coverts.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.