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Calcariidae - Longspurs, Snow Buntings

 

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia 
 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Aves
 Order: Passeriformes 
 Family: Calcariidae

darkeyed juncoThere 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.

 

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct Not Enough DataNot Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Endangered in US Endangered in US Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.
  New Hampshire Status Key
Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH More Info Click for More Info picture Click for Image

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

Lapland Longspur - Calcarius lapponicus Least Concern image More Info
Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis Least Concern
image More Info
 

Smith's Longspur - Calcarius pictus Least Concern image More Info
Chestnut-collared Longspur - Calcarius ornatus Vulnerable image More Info
Mckay's Bunting - Plectrophenax hyperboreus Least Concern More Info
McCown's Longspur - Rhynchophanes mccownii Least Concern image More Info

Other Species Around the World

None    

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Lapland Longspur -Calcarius lapponicus profile Photos Audio Least Concern Asia Europe North America
The Lapland longspur breeds in the Arctic tundra.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Lapland Longspur -Calcarius lapponicus profile Photos Audio Least Concern Asia Europe North America
The Lapland longspur forages on the ground for seeds and insects.
Source: National Audubon Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis profile Photos Video Audio Least Concern Asia Europe North America
The snow bunting breeds in the Arctic tundra.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis profile Photos Audio Least Concern Asia Europe North America
The snow bunting is also know as "snowflakes" because of their white plumage.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis profile Photos Least Concern Asia Europe North America
The snow bunting migrates in large flocks.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Smith's Longspur - Calcarius pictus profile Photos Audio Least Concern North America
Smith's longspur breeds in Alaska and northern Canada. It winters in Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Smith's Longspur - Calcarius pictus profile Photos Audio Least Concern North America
Smith's longspur breed in colonies. and the female may mate with more than one male.
Source: National Audubon Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Chestnut-collared Longspur - Calcarius ornatus profile Vulnerable North America
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.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Chestnut-collared Longspur - Calcarius ornatus profile Photos Audio Vulnerable North America
During the breeding season the male chestnut collared longspur has a black belly.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mckay's Bunting - Plectrophenax hyperboreus profile Photos Least Concern North America
McKay's bunting nests on remote St. Matthew and Hall Islands in the Bering Sea. It winters along the west Alaska coast.
Source: National Audubon Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

McCown's Longspur - Rhynchophanes mccownii profile Photos Video Audio Least Concern North America
McCown's longspur breeds in the Great Plains. It winters as for south as Mexico. It is also found in Manitoba and Alberta, Canada.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

McCown's Longspur - Rhynchophanes mccownii profile Photos Audio Least Concern North America
McCown's longspur eats seeds and insects. It forages on the ground for its food and will flush out insects and chase them down.
Source: National Audubon Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School