- Calcarius ornatus
Identification
Breeding Adult identified easily with rufous nape, cream-colored throat and black belly.
Nonbreeding Adult has bold white wingbars and hint of rufous on nape.
Juvenile is identified by the short primary projection and blury streaking on belly.
Distribution
Breeds from southeastern Alberta to southern Manitoba south to Montana, eastern Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Winters from southern Arizona and most of New Mexico east to southwestern Kansas, western and central Oklahoma, and most of Texas (except the very eastern part). In migration found in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
Vagrant to both coasts with the most records in California.
Accidental to inland states and provinces that are not part of regular range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Both short and long grass praries.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is a grass cup or a shallow ground scrape. The clutch consists of 4-5 eggs; both adults feed the young.
Diet
The diet includes seeds and insects.
Vocalisation
Call: two-syllabled chee dee.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Chestnut-collared Longspur. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chestnut-collared_Longspur
