Linda raised a really good question: How to pick out Longspurs?
I've done this a few times, and I'll share my ideas, but I think
others' insights might be helpful, too.
First of all, forget the name. You'll hardly see the feet, let alone
the hind toe, and the chances of seeing the long claw on it seem
remote to me. At least I haven't yet. Lapland Longspurs tend to
crouch, keep low to the ground and favor low spots as they forage,
so although they may be with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks,
it's a good idea to watch them a long time if there's any terrain
at all for a longspur to hide in or behind - clumps of dirt, tractor ruts,
etc. Check out every bird and movement.
Lapland Longspurs are smaller and shorter tailed than Snow Buntings
and Horned Larks which is useful in flight as well as on the ground.
Another clue in flight is they lack the white wing patches of the Snow
Buntings. Among foraging birds, Lapland Longspurs are stripier above
than Horned Larks. Longspurs have a short thick bill like Snow Buntings,
but are browner and more sparrow-like. Their color is sparrow-like stripes
above (gray/black, brownish, & whitish), but I wouldn't worry too much about
the chestnut wingpatch or nape - I haven't found them to be prominent. The
tan side of the face with darkish gray line or spots surrounging the earpatch
seems useful, as are the streaked flanks which are expanded into a smudge
of dark gray at the side of the top of the breast. I've only once seen them in
breeding plumage, and that was in May, so expect winter plumage.
I've seen them the same places as and among Snow Buntings & Horned
Larks: low winter fields of weeds or corn stubble, usually with snow, often
with manure or sometimes on a bare roadside getting salt or grit or seeds.
In Tompkins County we're fortunate to find an individual or two in a minority
of the flocks. >From what I've read on Geneseebirds-L they get larger numbers
and sometimes pure flocks farther north and west in NYS.
The mucklands south of NYS 31 west of the village of Montezuma can be a
good spot for Lapland Longspurs, along with Snow Buntings, Horned Larks,
Savannah Sparrows, and American Pipits.
The last time I saw Lapland Longspurs there were 2 in a relatively small flock
of probably fewer than 20 total of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks. I first
saw the flock crowded on the road edge, and I wasn't sure whether I was
seeing each bird clearly enough through binoculars, so when they flew 30
yards off into the adjacent field I got the scope out and looked carefully.
It was only in the scope that I saw the Lapland Longspurs. So they can be
easy to overlook. It's really good if you enjoy looking at Horned Larks and
Snow Buntings.
--Dave Nutter
On Feb 16, 2011, at 06:55 AM, Linda Post Van Buskirk <[email protected]> wrote:
Nice large flock on Lake Ridge Road, just north of the county line, near the machine shed. About 8:15 am. I would appreciate advice on how to pick out longspurs.
Linda P. Van Buskirk, Ph.D.
Sr. Lecturer in Communication
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
607-255-2161; fax 607-254-1322
