Smith's Longspur Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Lapland Longspur
Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding/immature Lapland Longspurs have a rusty panel in the wing that nonbreeding/immature Smith's Longspurs lack.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, December 19, 2003Similar Species
Lapland Longspur
Breeding male
Breeding male Lapland Longspurs have a black throat, whereas breeding male Smith's Longspurs have a tawny throat and belly.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 03, 2013Similar Species
Thick-billed Longspur
Female
Female Thick-billed Longspurs have a rusty upper wingbar unlike female/nonbreeding Smith's Longspurs, which have 2 white wingbars.
© Andrew Spencer | Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 20, 2012Similar Species
Thick-billed Longspur
Breeding male
Breeding male Thick-billed Longspurs lack the Smith's Longspurs tawny throat and belly.
© Shawn Billerman | Macaulay LibraryWyoming, April 12, 2014Similar Species
Chestnut-collared Longspur
nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Chestnut-collared Longspurs are plainer overall, lacking the buffy color of nonbreeding/female Smith's Longspurs.
© Jacob Drucker | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 13, 2016Similar Species
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Breeding male
Breeding male Chestnut-collared Longspurs have a black, not tawny belly like breeding male Smith's Longspurs.
© Gerrit Vyn | Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 06, 2010Similar Species
Vesper Sparrow
Adult/immature
Vespers Sparrows have a whiter belly and a distinct eyering that female/nonbreeding Smith's Longspurs lack.
© John Reynolds | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 04, 2016Similar Species
Horned Lark
Female
Female Horned Larks are slimmer with a thinner bill than female/nonbreeding Smith's Longspurs. They also lack the longspur's white wingbars.
© Bridget Spencer | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 04, 2015Main Species
Smith's Longspur
Breeding male
Medium-sized and sparrowlike with a thin bill. Breeding males have an unstreaked orangish belly and a patterned black-and-white face. Note white outer tail feathers.
© Andrew Spencer | Macaulay LibraryYukon Territory, June 07, 2014Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding birds are buffy below with fine streaking down the belly.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 25, 2011Breeding female
Breeding females have a heavily streaked back often flecked with white. The face is rather plain with a white eyering and thin bill.
© Historical Middleton Island Data | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, August 21, 2012Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding birds have two thin white wingbars, though the wingbars are not always visible. Note buffy underparts with fine streaky.
© Justyn Stahl | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 23, 2016Nonbreeding adult/immature
Chunky sparrowlike bird that is buffy overall with a heavily streaked back and finely streaked belly.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 25, 2011Nonbreeding adult/immature
In flight, note white upper wing patch.
© Michael Todd | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, December 17, 2020Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Longspurs and Snow Buntings(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Calcariidae)
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