Calcariidae Archives - NatureWorks

Calcariidae - Longspurs, Snow Buntings

There are six species of migratory birds in this family. The snow bunting and Lapland longspur are found in North America and Eurasia. The other four species are only found in North America.

The birds in this family have brown, gray and white plumage. They eat seeds, grasses and insects. Longspurs get their name from the long claw on their hind toe.

The birds in this family were once in the Emberizidae family, but DNA analysis has shown that similarities are superficial and not genetic.

Lapland Longspur
(Calcarius lapponicus)

The Lapland longspur breeds in the Arctic tundra. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Smith's Longspur
(Calcarius ornatus )

Smith's longspur breeds in Alaska and northern Canada. It winters in Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Chestnut-collared Longspur
(Plectrophenax hyperboreus)

The chestnut collared longspur is breeds in the prairies of Canada and Great Plains of the United States. It winters as far south as Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis)

The snow bunting breeds in the Arctic tundra. It is also known as "snowflakes" because of their white plumage. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Mckay's Bunting
(Plectrophenax hyperboreus)

McKay's bunting nests on remote St. Matthew and Hall Islands in the Bering Sea. It winters along the west Alaska coast. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
McCown's Longspur
(Rhynchophanes mccownii)

McCown's longspur breeds in the Great Plains. It winters as for south as Mexico. It is also found in Manitoba and Alberta, Canada. It eats seeds and insects. It forages on the ground for its food and will flush out insects and chase them down. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern