Calcarius lapponicus
male
The Lapland Longspur is a plump-bodied songbird that shuffles along the ground when feeding. The sexes are subtly dissimilar. Summer adult males have a streaked back, a chestnut nape, and a black crown, face, throat, and breast, with a white line running from the eye to the base of the wings. The wings have reddish-brown greater coverts and tertial edges. The belly and undertail are white but streaked black on the flanks. Winter adult males are similar, but black elements of the plumage are mostly replaced by streaked brown or buff; the throat is white. Adult females recall a winter male but are less colorful overall. Juveniles are similar to an adult female but with bolder streaking.
Lapland Longspurs breed in the Arctic mainly from April to August. They migrate south in fall, and the winter range extends across lowland southern U.S.A. Outside the breeding season the species forms flocks.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 6.25 in (16 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates in summer; mainly seeds in winter
HABITAT Tundra in summer; short grassland in winter
STATUS Widespread summer visitor in the north; locally common winter visitor to the south
VOICE Song comprises bursts of warbling phrases and whistles. Call is a rattle, typically given in flight
