Class Aves
Order Songbirds
Family Sparrows
Genus Calcarius

North American field guide

McCown's Longspur

Rhynchophanes mccownii

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

15 cm (6") Uncommon. Central North America. In winter; southwestern United States. Dry short grass prairies, plains. In winter; plowed fields, dry lakes, with Horned Larks.

Sparrow-like with a white tail with a dark inverted T (i.e. narrow black median and terminal band).

Male: streaked back. Black cap. Gray nape and rump. White throat. Black whisker stripe. Black crescent breast. White belly. May show a bright rusty wing patch.

Female: sparrow-like.

Non breeding Male: sparrow-like with a gray rump. Breast may show some black. May show a rusty red wing patch.

Song: twittering warbled flight song, dry rattle call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

5 photos

Credit: Darren Clark

Credit: Wildlife Conservation Society

Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado - May 1, 2012

Credit: Dan Vickers

Winter male in flight - Causey, Roosevelt Co, NM - November 4, 2007

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Weld County, Colorado, US - July 6, 2011

Credit: Jason Forbes

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

McCown's Longspur on breeding territory in July in Wyoming

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 7 rules

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

McCown's Longspur (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the WINGS ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 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
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:201-mccown-s-longspur-male:1:1 Source: 201 McCown's Longspur (Male), row 1

McCown's Longspur (Female)

4 rules

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:202-mccown-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:1:1 Source: 202 McCown's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 1

Rule 2 17 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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 ?: Summer
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:202-mccown-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:2:1 Source: 202 McCown's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 2

Rule 3 18 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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 · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:202-mccown-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:3:1 Source: 202 McCown's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 3

Rule 4 18 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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 · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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 ?: Winter
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:202-mccown-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:4:1 Source: 202 McCown's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 4

McCown's Longspur (Nonbreeding Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 18 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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 · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:202-mccown-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:3:2 Source: 202 McCown's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 3

Rule 2 18 criteria confidence 2

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Broad dark band across the tip · 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) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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 · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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 ?: Winter
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:202-mccown-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:4:2 Source: 202 McCown's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 4