Chestnut-collared longspur
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Calcarius ornatus
Weight
18-23
0.6-0.8
goz
g oz 
Length
13-16.5
5.1-6.5
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
25-27
9.8-10.6
cminch
cm inch 

The chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus ) is a species of bird in the family Calcariidae. Like the other longspurs, it is a small ground-feeding bird that primarily eats seeds. It breeds in prairie habitats in Canada and the northern United States and winters to the south in the United States and Mexico.

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Zo

Zoochory

Te

Terrestrial

Te

Territorial

Mo

Monogamy

Mi

Migrating

C

starts with

Appearance

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.

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Measurements:

  • Length: 5.1-6.5 in (13-16.5 cm)
  • Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz (17-23 g)
  • Wingspan: 25-27 cm

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Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

This bird breeds in short and mixed grass prairies in central Canada and the north central United States. In winter, they migrate in flocks to prairies and open fields in the southern United States and Mexico. Like other prairie birds, they have disappeared from some areas because of habitat loss but are still fairly common.

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Controlled burns may benefit this species as they feed on low-growing plants that are more easily spotted after a fire.

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Chestnut-collared longspur habitat map

Climate zones

Chestnut-collared longspur habitat map
Chestnut-collared longspur
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Habits and Lifestyle

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.

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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.

The call is a two-syllabled chee dee.

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Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
INDEPENDENT AGE
24 days

Population

References

1. Chestnut-collared longspur Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut-collared_longspur
2. Chestnut-collared longspur on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721040/180649581
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/665484

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