Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 5.9–6.3 in
15–16 cm - Wingspan
- 8.7–11 in
22–28 cm - Weight
- 0.8–1.2 oz
23–33 g
Other Names
- Lapland Bunting (British)
- Bruant lapon (French)
Cool Facts
- Some winter flocks of Lapland Longspurs have been estimated as large as four million birds. During snowstorms, such flocks sometimes collide with lighted structures such as radio towers, and thousands can be killed in a single night.
- The Lapland Longspur breeds in the high arctic with continual daylight during the summer, and a breeding male may sing at any hour of the day. Despite the lack of a real dawn, the male tends to sing most in the early morning.
- Longspur refers to the elongated claw of the hind toe.
Habitat
Grassland
Breeds in Arctic tundra in wet meadows, grassy tussocks, and scrub; in migration and winter in plowed fields, stubble, and open grasslands.
Food
Insects
Seeds and insects.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 3–7 eggs
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Ground Forager
Conservation
Least Concern
Common and widespread. No significant population trends, although some local populations have declined.
Credits
- Hussell, D. J. T., and R. Montgomerie. 2002. Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus). In The Birds of North America, No. 656 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.