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McCown's Longspur

Calcarius mccowniiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

McCown's Longspur Breeding Male Portrait
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General

McCown's Longspur: Medium-sized sparrow with streaked gray upperparts, plain gray underparts, and darker breast. Head has black crown, white face and throat, and heavy bill. White tail has diagnostic black inverted T. Wings have chestnut-brown bars. Female, winter adult, and juvenile are duller with brown wash over much of body.

Range and Habitat

McCown's Longspur: Breeds from Alberta and southwestern Manitoba south to Dakotas, Wyoming, and Colorado. Spends winters from Nebraska and Colorado southward. Found in shortgrass prairies, native grasslands, pastures, and agricultural areas.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"see, see, see me, see me, hear me, hear me, see", "churrip-churrip"

Interesting Facts

 The McCown's Longspur was named after Captain John P. McCown, an American army officer.

 The name longspur refers to an elongated claw equivalent to a human's big toe.

 These birds so dislike moisture that in wet seasons they may abandon areas where they normally are abundant.

 A group of longspurs are collectively known as a "drive" of longspurs.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for McCown's Longspur
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Calcarius mccownii
Length6 Inches
Wingspan10 Inches

McCown's Longspur

McCown's Longspur: Medium-sized sparrow with streaked gray upperparts, plain gray underparts, and darker breast. The head has a black crown, white face and throat, and a stout, heavy bill. White tail has diagnostic black inverted T. Wings have chestnut-brown bars. Black legs and feet.

● Song: "see, see, see me, see me, hear me, hear me, see", "churrip-churrip"

● Foraging & Feeding: McCown's Longspur: Feeds on seeds, insects, and other arthropods. Captures prey by flushing, stalking, hawking, or gleaning.

● Breeding & nesting: McCown's Longspur: Two to four white to pale olive eggs marked with brown and lavender are laid in a shallow ground depression lined with grass, weeds, roots, and lichens. Eggs are incubated for 12 days by the female.

● Similar species: McCown's Longspur: Chestnut-Collared Longspur has a white tail with black triangle, black belly, and chestnut-brown collar.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
McCown's Longspur Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: McCown's Longspur: Breeds from Alberta and southwestern Manitoba south to Dakotas, Wyoming, and Colorado. Spends winters from Nebraska and Colorado southward. Found in shortgrass prairies, native grasslands, pastures, and agricultural areas.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.8 Ounces