Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Also known as:Lapland Bunting

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

16 cm (6") Fairly common. Breeds on Arctic tundra; winters in southern Canada and across United States in grassy fields, prairies, grain stubble and on shores often with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.

Male: black head with a broad white line behind eye and ear. Chestnut nape. Black throat and breast. White belly.

Female and Non-breeding Male: sparrow-like. Brown streaked back. Buff on breast and sides. White belly and undertail coverts. Dark triangle outlines buffy ear patch. Some white on outer edge of tail.

Song: rapid warble flight song given only on breeding ground; "tee-lee-oo" call and in flight a dry rattle.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

This photo was taken on January 13, 2013 in Indian Run, New Wilmington, PA, US

Credit: Dave Inman

Credit: Tim

Credit: Mark Peck

Lapland Longspur, Honey Pot, Hadley, Mass. December 31, 2012

Credit: Keith Carver

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

IJsgors bij Kornwerderzand

Credit: Johnny van der Zwaag

IJsgors - Calcarius lapponicus - Lapland Longspur

Credit: Richard Diepstraten

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Lapland Longspur (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 4

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra

result:198-lapland-longspur-female:1:1 Source: 198 Lapland Longspur (Female), row 1

Lapland Longspur (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 4

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra

result:196-lapland-longspur-male:1:1 Source: 196 Lapland Longspur (Male), row 1

Lapland Longspur (Nonbreeding Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 4

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Fall · Winter
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra

result:197-lapland-longspur-nonbreeding-male:1:1 Source: 197 Lapland Longspur (Nonbreeding Male), row 1