# Lapland longspur

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Species of passerine bird in the longspur family Calcariidae

Lapland longspur Male Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae Genus: Calcarius Species: C. lapponicus Binomial name Calcarius lapponicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Range Breeding Migration Nonbreeding Synonyms Fringilla lapponica Linnaeus, 1758

*Calcarius lapponicus*

The **Lapland longspur** (***Calcarius lapponicus***), also known as the **Lapland bunting**, is a [passerine](/source/Passerine) [bird](/source/Bird) in the [longspur](/source/Longspur) [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Calcariidae](/source/Calcariidae). It is a circumpolar arctic breeder and the only member of the genus Calcarius present in Eurasia.

## Taxonomy

The Lapland longspur was [formally described](/source/Species_description) in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) in the [tenth edition](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae) of his *[Systema Naturae](/source/Systema_Naturae)*. He placed it with the finches in the [genus](/source/Genus) *[Fringilla](/source/Fringilla)* and coined the [binomial name](/source/Binomial_name) *Fringilla lapponica*.[2][3] The family is now generally separated by modern authors from the Fringillidae (Old World [finches](/source/Finch)). The Lapland longspur is now one of three longspurs placed in the genus *[Calcarius](/source/Calcarius)* that was introduced in 1802 by the German naturalist [Johann Matthäus Bechstein](/source/Johann_Matth%C3%A4us_Bechstein).[4] The English name refers to the long hind claws.[5] The genus name *Calcarius* is from [Latin](/source/Latin) *calcaria*, "spurs", and the specific *lapponicus* refers to [Lapland](/source/S%C3%A1pmi).[6]

Five [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) are recognised:[4]

- *C. l. subcalcaratus* ([Brehm, CL](/source/Christian_Ludwig_Brehm), 1826) – north Canada and Greenland

- *C. l. lapponicus* ([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), 1758) – north Europe and north Asia

- *C. l. kamtschaticus* [Portenko](/source/Leonid_Portenko), 1937 – northeast Siberia

- *C. l. alascensis* [Ridgway](/source/Robert_Ridgway), 1898 – extreme east Siberia, Alaska and northwest Canada

- *C. l. coloratus* Ridgway, 1898 – [Commander Islands](/source/Commander_Islands)

## Description

The Lapland longspur is a robust bird, with a thick yellow seed-eater's bill. The summer male has a black head and throat, white eyestripe, chestnut nape, white underparts, and a heavily streaked black-grey back. Other plumages have a plainer orange-brown head, a browner back and chestnut nape and wing panels.

**Measurements**:[7]

- **Length**: 5.9–6.3 in (15–16 cm)

- **Weight**: 0.8–1.2 oz (22.3–33.1 g)

- **Wingspan**: 8.7–11.4 in (22–29 cm)

## Distribution and habitat

It breeds across Arctic [Europe](/source/Europe) and the [Palearctic](/source/Palearctic) and in Canada and the northernmost United States. It is [migratory](/source/Bird_migration), wintering in the Russian steppes, the southern United States, Northern Scandinavian arctic areas and down to coastal Southern Sweden, Denmark and [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain). This is the only [Asian](/source/Palearctic) [species](/source/Species) of the [longspur](/source/Longspur) buntings, and while it probably did not [evolve](/source/Evolution) there, it has been present in [Eastern Europe](/source/Eastern_Europe) for at least about 30,000 years.[8]

## Behaviour

### Call

The most common flight call is a hard "prrrrt" usually preceded by a more nasal "teeww". When breeding, it also makes a softer "duyyeee" followed by a pause and a "triiiuuu"; both sounds alternate.

### Breeding

The Lapland longspur is a ground-nesting bird, preferring to build its cup nest on heavily-vegetated slopes or among [tussocks](/source/Carex_stricta) in low-lying wet areas.[9] They lay, on average, 5 eggs per brood.[10][11] It breeds in wet tundra, riparian areas, and marshes.[12][13]

### Wintering

During the winter, these birds are commonly found across the Great Plains and northeast of the United States, as well as southern Canada, where they can typically be seen foraging in agricultural fields.[14] Lapland longspurs often form [mixed-species flocks](/source/Mixed_species_feeding_flock) in winter, where they are regularly accompanied by [horned larks](/source/Horned_lark) and [snow buntings](/source/Snow_bunting).[15]

### Hybridization

In 2011, a male Lapland longspur × snow bunting hybrid was identified in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.[16]

### Food habits

Sitting on a dead [cow parsnip](/source/Cow_parsnip), [Buldir Island](/source/Buldir_Island), Alaska

The food habits of the Lapland longspur are quite simple: mostly seeds in winter and arthropods in the summer, when they are in activity.[17]

During the winter, the longspur feeds on seeds. They pick them on the ground, rarely feeding directly on plants. They will forage around the same area for a period varying between a few minutes and an hour, then fly away looking for a new foraging area. Their seed diet is composed mainly of seeds from grass, foxtail, cultivated millet, crabgrass and wheat.[17] During the breeding season, the birds migrate to the north, where their diet switches to arthropods. Nestlings are only fed arthropods, which also constitute the diet of the parents at that time of the year (June to July). The birds often catch insects in mid-air, but do forage through vegetation when climatic conditions prevent the insects from flying.[18] Longspurs can consume between 3000 and 10,000 prey items (insects or seeds) per day, depending on their energy needs ; they may need to increase this number by 3000 when feeding the young.[19] Dipteran larvae and adults form the major part of their insectivorous diet.[20]

## Gallery

		- Female

		- Flock

		- Illustration

		- Eggs

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_13_November_2021_1-0)** BirdLife International (2017). ["*Calcarius lapponicus*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721033/111138693). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2017** e.T22721033A111138693. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22721033A111138693.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22721033A111138693.en). Retrieved 13 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Linnaeus, Carl](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) (1758). [*Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727087) (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 180.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1970). [*Check-List of Birds of the World*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14483272). Vol. 13. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 37.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ioc_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ioc_4-1) [Gill, Frank](/source/Frank_Gill_(ornithologist)); Donsker, David; [Rasmussen, Pamela](/source/Pamela_C._Rasmussen), eds. (August 2024). ["Finches, euphonias, longspurs, Thrush-tanager"](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/finches/). *IOC World Bird List Version 14.2*. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 30 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-OED_5-0)** ["Long"](https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?q=Long). *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or [participating institution membership](https://www.oed.com/public/login/loggingin#withyourlibrary) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-job_6-0)** Jobling, James A. (2010). [*The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names*](https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling). London, United Kingdom: Christopher Helm. pp. [84](https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n84), 219. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4081-2501-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4081-2501-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Lapland Longspur Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology"](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lapland_Longspur/id). *www.allaboutbirds.org*. Retrieved 2020-09-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AZC_8-0)** Tomek, Teresa; Bocheński, Zygmunt (2005). ["Weichselian and Holocene bird remains from Komarowa Cave, Central Poland"](https://doi.org/10.3409%2F173491505783995743). *Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia*. **48A** (1–2). Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences: 43–65. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3409/173491505783995743](https://doi.org/10.3409%2F173491505783995743).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Boal, Clint W.; Andersen, David E. (2005). "Microhabitat Characteristics of Lapland Longspur, Calcarius lapponicus, Nests at Cape Churchill, Manitoba". *The Canadian Field-Naturalist*. **119** (2): 208. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005CFNat.119..208B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005CFNat.119..208B). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.22621/cfn.v119i2.108](https://doi.org/10.22621%2Fcfn.v119i2.108).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Custer, Thomas W.; Pitelka, Frank A. (1977). "Demographic Features of a Lapland Longspur Population near Barrow, Alaska". *The Auk*. **94** (3): 505–525. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/auk/94.3.505](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fauk%2F94.3.505) (inactive 1 July 2025).{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_DOI_inactive_as_of_July_2025))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Hunt, Kathleen E.; Wingfield, John C. (2004). "Effect of estradiol implants on reproductive behavior of female Lapland longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus)". *General and Comparative Endocrinology*. **137** (3): 248–262. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.ygcen.2004.03.015](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ygcen.2004.03.015). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15201063](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15201063).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Henry, J. D., and M. Mico. (2002). Relative abundance, habitat use, and breeding status of birds in Aulavik National Park, Banks Island, Northwest Territories. *Canadian Field-Naturalist* 116: 393-407.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Rodrigues, Robert (1994). "Microhabitat Variables Influencing Nest-Site Selection by Tundra Birds". *Ecological Applications*. **4** (1): 110–116. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1994EcoAp...4..110R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1994EcoAp...4..110R). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1942120](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1942120). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1942120](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1942120).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Lapland Longspur"](https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/lapland-longspur). *Audubon Field Guide*. Retrieved 2025-01-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Lapland Longspur Life History"](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lapland_Longspur/lifehistory). *All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology*. Retrieved 2025-01-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Macdonald, Christie A.; Martin, Tracy; Ludkin, Rick; Hussell, David J. T.; Lamble, David; Love, Oliver P. (2012). "First Report of a Snow Bunting × Lapland Longspur Hybrid". *Arctic*. **65** (3): 344–348. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.14430/arctic4222](https://doi.org/10.14430%2Farctic4222). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [41758941](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41758941).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gabrielson_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gabrielson_17-1) Gabrielson, Ira Noel (1924). "Food habits of some winter bird visitants". *U.S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin* (1249).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Watson_18-0)** Watson, Adam (1957). ["Birds of the Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island"](https://doi.org/10.5962%2Fp.341713). *The Canadian Field-Naturalist*. **71** (3): 87–109. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5962/p.341713](https://doi.org/10.5962%2Fp.341713).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Custer, Thomas W.; Osborn, Ronald G.; Pitelka, Frank A.; Gessaman, James A. (1986). "Energy Budget and Prey Requirements of Breeding Lapland Longspurs near Barrow, Alaska, U.S.A.". *Arctic and Alpine Research*. **18** (4): 415–427. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1551091](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1551091). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0004-0851](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0004-0851). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1551091](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1551091).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Custer, Thomas W.; Pitelka, Frank A. (1978). "Seasonal trends in summer diet of the Lapland longspur near Barrow, Alaska". *The Condor*. **80** (3): 295–301. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1978Condo..80..295C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1978Condo..80..295C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1368039](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1368039). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1368039](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1368039).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Calcarius lapponicus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Calcarius_lapponicus).

- ["Calcarius lapponicus"](https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=3534E4CEBACCB166). *Avibase*.

- [Lapland Longspur Species Account](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lapland_Longspur) – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

- [Lapland Longspur – *Calcarius lapponicus*](https://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5360id.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221727/http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5360id.html) 2007-12-25 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter

- ["Lapland Longspur media"](https://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/lapland-longspur-calcarius-lapponicus). *[Internet Bird Collection](/source/Internet_Bird_Collection)*.

- [Stamps](https://web.archive.org/web/20020311084527/http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/20230400.htm) (for Canada) with Circumpolar Range-Map at bird-stamps.org

- [Lapland Longspur photo gallery](https://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=Lapland+longspur&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24) at VIREO (Drexel University)

- [Lapland Longspur images](https://web.archive.org/web/20110720012657/http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?action=searchresult&Bird_ID=1940) at [Oriental Bird Images - A Database of the Oriental Bird Club](https://web.archive.org/web/20031026003411/http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/) (see pulldown menu at page bottom)

- [Interactive range map of *Calcarius lapponicus*](http://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721033/166427206) at [IUCN Red List](http://www.iucnredlist.org)

Taxon identifiers Calcarius lapponicus Wikidata: Q208703 Wikispecies: Calcarius lapponicus ABA: laplon ADW: Calcarius_lapponicus Avibase: 3534E4CEBACCB166 BioLib: 9026 BirdLife: 22721033 BOLD: 17159 BOW: laplon BTO: bob18470 eBird: laplon EPPO: CALKLA EUNIS: 932 EURING: 18470 Fauna Europaea: 97518 Fauna Europaea (new): a93aadc5-2716-460d-80ec-2d56fba20c0f GBIF: 2491678 GNAB: lapland-longspur IBC: lapland-longspur-calcarius-lapponicus iNaturalist: 116840 IRMNG: 10197116 ITIS: 179526 IUCN: 22721033 NatureServe: 2.100665 NBN: NHMSYS0000530233 NCBI: 135424 Observation.org: 265 Open Tree of Life: 420995 Paleobiology Database: 369336 TSA: 3092 WoRMS: 383230 Xeno-canto: Calcarius-lapponicus

Authority control databases National Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lapland longspur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_longspur) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_longspur?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.