Mccown's longspur
The thick-billed longspur, formerly known as McCown's longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii ), is a small ground-feeding bird in the family Calcariidae, which also contains the other longspurs and snow buntings. It is found in North America and is the only species in the genus Rhynchophanes.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Flocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withThick-billed longspurs are about 15 cm long and weigh around 25 g with a wingspan of 28 cm. They have a large cone-shaped bill, a streaked back, a rust-coloured shoulder and a white tail with a dark tip. In breeding plumage, the male has a white throat and underparts, a grey face and nape and a black crown. Other plumages are very plain brown overall with pink bills.
Thick-billed longspurs nest in shortgrass prairies in the northwestern Great Plains states and southern Prairie Provinces. They winter primarily in Texas and northern Mexico. There are accidental sightings elsewhere in North America.
The male produces a distinctive tinkling song, often in flight. The calls include a dry rattle.
Nests are constructed in a shallow depression on the ground, and incubate the eggs for about 12 days. Both parents feed the young, and fledglings leave the nest about 10 days after hatching, before they can properly fly. Outside the breeding season, thick-billed longspurs occur in flocks, sometimes with other species like Lapland longspur and horned lark.
The diet consists of seeds and insects.
