Bird Guide

Lapland Longspur vs Smith's Longspur

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Small28 gGrassland

The Lapland longspur is a robust bird, with a thick yellow seed-eater's bill. The summer male has a black head and throat, white eyestripe, chestnut nape, white underparts, and a heavily streaked black-grey back. Other plumages have a plainer orange-brown head, a browner back and chestnut nape and wing panels. Measurements: Length: 5.9–6.3 in (15–16 cm) Weight: 0.8–1.2 oz (22.3–33.1 g) Wingspan: 8.7–11.4 in (22–29 cm) Voice: The most common flight call is a hard "prrrrt" usually preceded by a more nasal "teeww". When breeding, it also makes a softer "duyyeee" followed by a pause and a "triiiuuu"; both sounds alternate.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Lapland Longspur
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Flight call · Carolles, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0
Photo: Quentin Benet-Cibois · CC BY 4.0
Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus)

Smith's Longspur

Calcarius pictus

Small27 gGrassland

These birds have short cone-shaped bills, streaked backs, and dark tails with white outer rectrices. In breeding state plumage (mostly formed by worn basic plumage), the male has a pumpkin-orange throat, nape, and underparts contrasting with an intricate black-and-white face pattern. The white lesser coverts are quite pronounced on a male in spring and early summer. Females and immatures have lightly streaked buffy underparts, dark crowns, brown wings with less obvious white lesser coverts, and a light-colored face. The tail is identical at all ages.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Nathan May · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Lapland Longspur and Smith's Longspur.