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GrasslandCup nestSmall · 27 g
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Smith's Longspur
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Smith's Longspur
The map shades 2 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Smith's Longspur
Smith's longspur is a bird from the family Calcariidae, which also contains the other species of longspurs. A bird of open habitats, it breeds in northern Canada and Alaska, and winters in the southern United States. Primarily a ground-feeding seed-eater, it supplements its diet with insects in the summer.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcarius ornatusThese birds have a short conical bill, a streaked back and a white tail with a dark tip.
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusThe Lapland longspur is a robust bird, with a thick yellow seed-eater's bill.
Side by side: Lapland Longspur vs Smith's Longspur · Chestnut-collared Longspur vs Smith's Longspur · Smith's Longspur vs Thick-billed Longspur
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