The migration of winter birds into our area often highlights hawks, owls, and finches; however, driving snow covered rural roads through Ohio’s farmland can be rewarded with flocks of Lapland Longspurs. This species is most often in association with Horned Larks,Snow Buntings, and American Pipits. The Lapland Longspur is a circumpolar species and is considered one of, if not the most common breeding species of the Arctic tundra north of the tree line.
The Lapland Longspur’s scientific name is Calcarius lapponicus. Calacarius is from Latin calcar, meaning “a cock’s spur” referencing the long claw on the hind toe or hallux. All four of North America’s longspurs (including Smith’s, Thick-billed,and Chestnut-collared) possess this claw. The specific name lapponicus is the modern Latin meaning “of Lapland” where the type where the type specimen was collected. In England, this species in known as the Lapland Bunting (Meiter 2020).
Lapland Longspurs begin arriving along the Lake Erie shore from their summer breeding grounds between September 20-30, being more regularly observed by mid-October. Flocks of 20-30 individuals are typically observed but higher concentrations of 100-200 birds may be observed near western Lake Erie. Fall birds are casual to uncommon elsewhere in Ohio, being least common in the southern and southeastern portions of the state (Peterjohn 2001).
Wintering longspurs inhabit open farmlands of rural Ohio, especially standing or lightly tilled corn stubble fields and adjacent road edges. Snowfall often congregates flocks and pushes them towards the road edges where they are more easily observed. Farmland where manure is freshly spread on snow or short pasture can also be very attractive to wintering birds. In the absence of snow, these birds tend to disperse throughout the open farmland and can be very difficult to locate. Lou Campbell and Milt Trautman encountered flocks containi100-400 birds during the 1930’s, when farming practices left plenty of cover and food during the winter (Peterjohn 2001). More recent clean farming practices leave very little cover or food and intensive fall plowing generally will not support regular observations of longspurs, so efforts to locate these birds should concentrate in other areas.
Winter plumage largely shows tones of brown and black above and white on the belly with streaking on the flanks and throat. Adult males retain more of the color, showing black streaks on the flanks, a black mottled upper breast, a yellowish eye stripe, and a chestnut patch on the back of the head. Beyond adult males, winter plumage individuals can be difficult to age and sex.
Lapland Longspurs are most numerous in the spring when larger concentrations can form as they stage for their northward migration. The author observed a flock estimated at nearly 1,000 birds in western Madison County on April 6, 2021. Other exceptional observations are 625 from Mercer County (April 13, 1986), estimated 4,200 at Maumee Bay State Park (March 21, 1997), and an amazing 10,000 birds by Lou Campbell in Lucas County on May 1, 1949 (Peterjohn 2001). Flocks of 15-40 are more common but it is easy to overlook these birds as they blend into corn stubble and recently plowed fields. Birds actually hide behind larger balls of soil in freshly plowed fields as they hunt for seeds and insect larva.
During March and April, when they are most numerous, the males begin to acquire their breeding plumage. The head and chest become a dark black and the eye stripe becomes buff colored to yellow and the chestnut patch on the back of head becomes a much richer shade.These hues, while striking when observed, still allow them to blend into their open field surroundings. This color combination also allows them to blend in quite well with recently burned areas. The author saw his first Lapland Longspurs at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in a recently burned field. The only way to find them was to use a scope and watch for the movement. Once spotted and followed in a scope, they provided great views for study. Also, by late March and early April they become more vocal, especially in flight, but will occasionally sing their complete song from a ground perch which may aid in locating them.
Two other species of longspurs have been recorded in Ohio. Smith’s Longspurs are rare spring migrants in corn stubble fields, pastures and hayfields with most recent records from Madison and Mercer Counties. Ohio has two records of the Chestnut-collared Longspur (2018 and 2021) both from the same site in Lake County (Harlan 2020).
References: Byers, Clive, J. Curson, and U. Olsson. 1995. Sparrows and Buntings–A Guide to the Sparrows and Buntings of North America and the World. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston and New York. 334 p.
Harlan, Robert N. 2022. Ohio Bird Records Committee Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Ohio 65 p.
Meiter, Gary H. 2020. Bird is the Word, An Historical Perspective on the Names of North American Birds. McDonald Woodward Publishing. Newark, Ohio pp. 305-306.
Peterjohn, Bruce G. 2001. Birds of Ohio. The Wooster Book Company. Wooster, Ohio. pp. 515-517.
John Watts is a retired Resource Manager, Columbus Metro Parks, and a member of the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association (ONAPA) Board Advisory Committee. This article is republished here by kind permission of ONAPA. All photos by John Watts.