We have A Bird That Wears Spurs? | Birds Of Chestermere

A few columns ago, we referred to our birding adventures in eastern Saskatchewan with our son and tour guide Darryl. While travelling down each gravel road between harvested quarter sections southeast of Codette, a smaller brown bird caught our eye. These birds were gathered in small flocks on the roads, becoming airborne quickly as we approached them. As opportunities came we took photos and to our satisfaction were able to add a “new bird” to our collection.

Slightly larger than a sparrow, the Lapland Longspur is a short distance migrant, heading to the Arctic tundra to create the next generation only to return to the American Midwest and southern Canada to overwinter. Mainly a seed eater, insects and invertebrates are added to the diet during breeding season. A longspur can have quite an appetite, consuming between 3000 and 10,000 seeds or insects per day – depending on the energy requirements.

Like many species, the male longspur makes itself very attractive to mates, by adding a little colour. Specifically the crown, face and bib are a solid jet black enhanced with a rusty-hued nape. Females look very similar to males but with lighter coloration on the nape and mask. To attract a mate the male will perform a flight-song display, rapidly ascending up to 65 feet in the air, to then glide to the ground singing all the way down. Now that’s impressive! Enjoying the hummocky tundra, mixed with dwarf shrubs and sedge, a nest is built right on the ground, ready to house an average brood of three.

Once the love has ended, the second plumage coloration occurs and is generally dull in hue.  The crown is coloured black in streaks, a dark line outlines the ear and the flanks are streaked as well. The rusty colour appears on the wings.

Both Alberta and Saskatchewan are a part of the Central Flyway, making these provinces resting stops during both spring and fall migrations. Additionally, Lapland Longspurs will overwinter in both southern Alberta and Saskatchewan on the agricultural fields, often sharing these fields with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.

Fortunately, global populations of the Lapland Longspur are healthy with approximately 140 million living in North America, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and Great Britain. Of this number, about 66 million make North America their home. Flocks of up to 4 million have been seen in the American Central Plains region during the winter months. Although not a conservation concern now, climate change may impact the habitats used and impact future populations.

You may wonder where the spur on this bird is located. All four species of longspurs have an unusually long hind claw on their rear-facing toe. Elaine and I have now been spurred into action, looking more closely in the coming months for Alberta’s Lapland Longspurs.