Image via Macaulay Library
Smith's Longspur
- Scientific name
- Calcarius pictus
- Family
- Calcariidae
- Conservation status
- Near threatened
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The Smith's Longspur was formally described by William Swainson in 1832, who named the species in honor of his friend and fellow naturalist, Gideon Smith. This migratory passerine breeds in the open arctic tundra of northern Canada and Alaska, characterized by its preference for grass-sedge meadows, which historically made it a challenging subject for early ornithological study due to its remote habitat.
The species is distinguished by its pointed wing shape and notched tail, physical traits adapted for long-distance flight during its extensive migration to the central United States. Illustrators of the 19th and early 20th centuries, including those contributing to seminal field guides, often focused on the bird's distinct breeding plumage—notably the male's striking black and white face pattern—to ensure it remained distinguishable from the more common Lapland Longspur.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Smith's Longspur
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