Birds
Lapland Longspur
Calcarius lapponicus · also called Lapland longspurs
Across an open stretch of winter farmland, a flock of tens of thousands of Lapland longspurs rises and settles in unison, a fraction of a species that numbers in the tens of millions across its vast Arctic breeding range each summer.
Overview
The Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus, is an abundant songbird that breeds on treeless Arctic tundra across the far north and winters on open farmland and grassland across a broad range of the northern United States and southern Canada. Its status as one of the most numerous Arctic breeding songbirds, tendency to form enormous winter flocks, and striking seasonal change in plumage make it one of the more ecologically significant and visually dramatic songbirds of the far north.
Millions strong, mostly unnoticed
Despite being one of the most abundant songbirds on the entire planet, the Lapland longspur’s remote Arctic breeding grounds and unassuming winter flocking habits keep it largely unfamiliar to people outside its specific range.
Status
Least Concern — abundant across its vast Arctic tundra breeding range and extensive wintering range across northern farmland and grassland.
Lapland Longspur: common questions
How many Lapland longspurs are there?
This species is one of the most numerous breeding songbirds across the entire Arctic tundra, with a global population estimated in the tens of millions, making it one of the most abundant songbird species found anywhere in the far north despite being relatively unfamiliar to people outside its breeding and wintering range.
Why does the Lapland longspur form such large winter flocks?
This species gathers into large winter flocks, sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands of birds at a single favourable site, a strategy that likely helps individuals locate patchy food sources such as waste grain and weed seeds across open farmland more efficiently while also providing some protection from predators through sheer numbers.
How does the Lapland longspur change appearance between seasons?
A breeding male of this species displays a bold black face and throat contrasting sharply with a rich chestnut nape, a striking pattern that is replaced by a much plainer, streaky brown appearance outside the breeding season, a seasonal transformation that can make the same individual look quite different depending on the time of year.
Why does the Lapland longspur have such a long hind claw?
This species has a notably long, straightened hind claw, a feature shared with several other longspur species and thought to help provide balance and stability while walking across the open, often uneven tundra and farmland ground the species spends much of its time foraging on.