Breeding male - Churchill Manitoba, CA - July 8, 2006
Credit: Bob McKay

North American field guide

Smith's Longspur

Calcarius pictus

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Identification

Field notes

16 cm (6") Uncommon. Breeds on Arctic tundra, far northern Canadian meadows. Winter; central United States on prairies, fields, airports.

Male: distinctive black and white head. Deep buff on entire underparts and nape. Brown streaked back. Dark tail has white outer edge.

Female and Non-breeding Male: sparrow-like. Brown streaked back. Buffy, lightly streaked breast. Dark tail has a white outer edge.

Song: sweet warbles ending with "wee-chew" given only on breeding grounds, rapid clicking flight song, dry rattle call.

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Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 8 rules

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

Smith'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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · 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 ?
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 · 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
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
result:200-smith-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:1:1 Source: 200 Smith'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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · 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 ?
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 · 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 ?
Summer
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
result:200-smith-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:2:1 Source: 200 Smith's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 2
Rule 3 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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · 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 ?
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 · 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
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
result:200-smith-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:3:1 Source: 200 Smith's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 3
Rule 4 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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · 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 ?
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 · 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 ?
Winter
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
result:200-smith-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:4:1 Source: 200 Smith's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 4

Smith's Longspur (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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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:199-smith-s-longspur-male:1:1 Source: 199 Smith's Longspur (Male), row 1
Rule 2 18 criteria confidence 1
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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States
result:199-smith-s-longspur-male:2:1 Source: 199 Smith's Longspur (Male), row 2

Smith's Longspur (Nonbreeding Male)

2 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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · 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 ?
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 · 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
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
result:200-smith-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:3:2 Source: 200 Smith's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 3
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 · 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) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 · 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 ?
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 · 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 ?
Winter
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
result:200-smith-s-longspur-female-and-nonbreeding-male:4:2 Source: 200 Smith's Longspur (Female and Nonbreeding Male), row 4