Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicus
The Lapland Longspur is a rare, but regular migrant and winter resident across the state, however, it is more likely to be encountered in West Tennessee from Reelfoot Lake to Memphis than elsewhere. This Arctic tundra breeding bird is actually quite abundant, breeding across Eurasia, Greenland, and North America. In North America, huge numbers winter across the Great Plains from southern Canada to northern Texas. Lapland Longspur usually arrives in Tennessee by mid-November and departs by early May.
Description: This medium-sized, sparrow-like bird has a short, thick, pointed bill, a rusty patch in the wing, white outer tail feathers, is brown-streaked above, has streaked sides, and a white belly. In non-breeding plumage (August-March) the face is patterned buff and brown, with a buffy-rust nape, and a dark breast-band; breeding males (March-August) have a black face and chest, a yellowish eye-stripe, and a rusty nape.
Length: 6.25"
Wingspan: 11.5"
Weight: 0.95 oz.
Voice: The call is a husky, whistled tleew, similar to a Snow Bunting.
Similar Species:
- Horned Lark has a thin bill, a black face patch, a black tail, and also has white outer tail feathers.
- Smith's Longspur is accidental in Tennessee; in winter and has a buffy breast and belly, and no rust in the wing.
Habitat: In Tennessee, it is usually found in open areas, especially plowed, fallow, or stubble agricultural fields, and along roadsides.
Diet: Seeds and insects.
Nesting and reproduction: There are no records of Lapland Longspur nesting in Tennessee.
Status in Tennessee: The Lapland Longspur is a regular, but rare migrant and winter resident across the state, but more likely to be seen in the western half of the state, especially from Reelfoot Lake to Memphis. It usually arrives by mid-November and departs by early May.
Dynamic map of Lapland Longspur eBird observations in Tennessee
Fun Facts:
- The name "longspur" refers to the unusually long claw on the hind toe.
- Elsewhere in this species' range, it is know as the Lapland Bunting.
- Some flocks of Lapland Longspur in winter in North American have been estimated at four million birds.
- The Lapland Longspur breeds in the high arctic with 24-hour sunlight during the summer, and will sing at all hours of the day, yet sings most in the early morning.
Best place to see in Tennessee: Short-stubble, or plowed agricultural fields along the Mississippi River from Reelfoot Lake to Memphis.
Sources:
Hussell, D. J. T., and R. Montgomerie. 2002. Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus). The Birds of North America, No. 656. (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
Robinson J. C. 1990. An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville.
Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.
Consider using the online bird checklist program at eBird to help us understand bird populations and distributions in Tennessee. Click here to see how.
