Lapland longspur
Calcarius lapponicus
Identification Tips:
- Short, conical bill
- Black tail with white outer tail feather
- Found in open areas: beaches, tundra, short grass or bare fields
- Often found in flocks
- Forages on the ground
Adult male alternate:
- Black crown, face, and throat bordered by white
- Chestnut nape
- Streaked back
- White underparts with black streaks on flanks
- Yellow bill
- Adult 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.