General

Lapland Longspur: Medium-sized, sparrow-like bird with brown-streaked black back. Underparts are white and streaked black on sides and flanks. Crown, face, and throat are black; nape is red-brown. Bill is yellow with dark tip. Tail is long with white edges. Winter male has mottled black crown, face, and throat. Female is duller with dark cheek patch. Juvenile shows more streaking on upperparts, breast, and sides.

Range and Habitat

Lapland Longspur: Breeds from Aleutians, Alaska, and Arctic islands to northern Quebec. Winters regularly throughout northern states to California, Texas, and New York.; also in northern Eurasia. Nests on Arctic tundra; in migration stays on alpine meadows. Winters on farm fields, pastures, grasslands, and grassy coastal dunes.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"tee-lee-oo", "tee-dle"

Interesting Facts

 The more common name for this bird is Lapland Bunting.  It is only known as the Lapland Longspur in North America. 'Longspur' refers to the elongated claw of the hind toe.

 It breeds in the high arctic with continual daylight during the summer, and a breeding male may sing at any hour of the day. Despite the lack of a real dawn, the male tends to sing most in the early morning.

 Some winter flocks have been estimated as large as four million birds.

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

Author

Gary Owen Dick