Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicus
The Lapland Longspur is a circumpolar Arctic-breeding songbird that winters in large flocks on open fields, showing a bold black-and-chestnut head pattern in breeding plumage.
- Feather type
- Contour and flight feathers, streaked brown
- Colours
- Streaky brown with a black-and-chestnut breeding head pattern
- Bird size
- Sparrow-sized, ~16 cm
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Overview
Overview
The Lapland Longspur is a hardy, ground-dwelling songbird of the high Arctic tundra, wintering across open agricultural land and coastal habitats farther south in enormous flocks. Its name refers to the elongated hind claw shared by all longspurs.
- Family: Longspurs and snow buntings (Calcariidae)
- Genus: Calcarius, meaning "spur," for the long hind claw
- One of the most abundant Arctic-breeding songbirds, with a circumpolar range
Identifying the Feather
Feather Identification
Lapland Longspur feathers are streaky brown overall, with breeding males showing a striking black face and throat bordered by a bold white or cream stripe and a chestnut nape patch.
- Shape: Contour feathers are rounded; tail feathers show white outer edges; the elongated hind claw is a genus-wide feature, not visible in typical body feathers
- Size: Small, sparrow-sized feathers
- Color pattern: Streaked brown back in all plumages; breeding males add a black face/throat, chestnut nape, and white supercilium stripe; winter birds are more uniformly streaky buff-brown
- Shaft: Pale, not diagnostic
- Vs. similar species: In winter plumage, told from other longspurs by streakier overall pattern and a rusty patch on the closed wing (greater covert edging); breeding males are unmistakable with their black-and-chestnut head pattern
Plumage & Molt
Plumage Details
Breeding males show a black face and throat, chestnut nape, and white stripe curving behind the eye and down the neck; females and winter birds are streaky brown overall with a hint of the head pattern.
- Sexes: Breeding males are boldly patterned; females are duller and more streaked, retaining only a faint suggestion of the face pattern
- Juveniles: Heavily streaked brown overall, lacking any black or chestnut head markings
- Seasonal changes: Males molt into a much plainer, streakier winter plumage that obscures the breeding head pattern until feather tips wear away by spring
- Molt: Complete molt after breeding; breeding plumage is achieved partly through feather wear that reveals underlying black and chestnut feather bases
Habitat & Range
Habitat & Range
Lapland Longspurs breed on Arctic tundra and winter in open habitats far to the south across much of the Northern Hemisphere.
- Range: Circumpolar Arctic breeder; winters across the northern US, Europe, and Asia
- Habitat: Breeds on open tundra with low vegetation; winters on plowed fields, prairies, and coastal grasslands
- Migratory status: Long-distance migrant, forming large flocks during migration and winter, often mixed with other open-country songbirds
Behavior & Field Notes
Behavior & Field Notes
Lapland Longspurs forage on the ground in flocks, walking rather than hopping, and feeding on seeds and insects depending on season.
- Diet: Insects during the Arctic summer breeding season; seeds and waste grain during migration and winter
- Nesting: Builds a grass-lined cup nest on the ground, sheltered by tundra vegetation
- Voice: A musical, warbled flight song on the breeding grounds; winter flocks give dry rattling flight calls
- Field notes: Winter flocks often number in the hundreds or thousands, moving low over open fields with an erratic, bounding flight
Frequently asked questions
How can you recognize Lapland Longspur feathers in winter plumage?
Look for an overall streaky buff-brown pattern with a rusty patch on the closed wing, distinguishing it from plainer winter sparrows.
What does a breeding male Lapland Longspur look like?
It shows a bold black face and throat, a chestnut nape patch, and a white stripe curving behind the eye and down the side of the neck.
Where does the Lapland Longspur breed?
It breeds on Arctic tundra across a circumpolar range spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.
Where can Lapland Longspurs be seen in winter?
They form large flocks on open agricultural fields, prairies, and coastal grasslands well south of their Arctic breeding range.
Lapland Longspur guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Lapland Longspur.
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