Birds Guide

Longspurs
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae   Genus: Calcarius Bechstein, 1802
Species
See text.

The Longspurs, genus Calcarius, are a group of birds in the family Emberizidae. The name refers to the long claw on the hind toe of each foot.

These are chunky ground-feeding birds with long wings which are usually seen in open areas. Males declare ownership of a territory by singing during short flights over it. The male's breeding plumage is much brighter than his winter plumage. These birds gather in large flocks in winter. The longspurs are all found in North America; the Lapland Longspur, or Lapland Bunting, is also found in Europe and Asia.

The full list of species is:

• McCown's Longspur, Calcarius mccownii
  Lapland Longspur, or Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus
  Smith's Longspur, Calcarius pictus
  Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus