Chestnut-collared Longspur
Encyclopedia
The Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus, is a small ground-feeding bird
from the family Calcariidae which also contains the longspur
s.
This bird breeds in short and mixed grass prairie
s in central Canada
and the north central United States
. The female lays 4 or 5 eggs in a grass cup nest in a shallow scrape on the ground. The male sings and flies up to defend his territory. Both parents feed the young birds.
In winter, they migrate
in flocks to prairies and open fields in the southern United States
and Mexico
.
These birds forage on the ground, gathering in flocks in winter. They mainly eat seeds, also eating insects in summer. Young birds are mainly fed insects.
The call is a two-syllabled chee dee.
Controlled burns
may benefit this species as they feed on low-growing plants that are more easily spotted after a fire.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
from the family Calcariidae which also contains the longspur
Longspur
The Longspurs, genus Calcarius, are a group of birds in the family Calcariidae. The name refers to the long claw on the hind toe of each foot. The genus formerly included the McCown's Longspur, Rhyncophanes mccownii, which is now placed in a separate genus.These are chunky ground-feeding birds with...
s.
Overview
These birds have a short conical bill, a streaked back and a white tail with a dark tip. In breeding plumage, the male has black underparts, a chestnut nape, a yellow throat and a black crown. Other birds have light brown underparts, a dark crown, brown wings and may have some chestnut on the nape.This bird breeds in short and mixed grass prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
s in central Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the north central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The female lays 4 or 5 eggs in a grass cup nest in a shallow scrape on the ground. The male sings and flies up to defend his territory. Both parents feed the young birds.
In winter, they migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
in flocks to prairies and open fields in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
These birds forage on the ground, gathering in flocks in winter. They mainly eat seeds, also eating insects in summer. Young birds are mainly fed insects.
The call is a two-syllabled chee dee.
Conservation
Like other prairie birds, they have disappeared from some areas due to habitat loss but are still fairly common.Controlled burns
Controlled burn
Controlled or prescribed burning, also known as hazard reduction burning or Swailing is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for...
may benefit this species as they feed on low-growing plants that are more easily spotted after a fire.
External links
- Chestnut-collared Longspur Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chestnut-collared Longspur - Calcarius ornatus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Chestnut-collared Longspur Information - South Dakota Birds and Birding
- Chestnut-collared Longspur videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Chestnut-collared Longspur photo gallery VIREO