Jan 5

Bird of the day

Chestnut-collared longspur

Calcarius ornatus

The chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus) is a species of bird in the family Calcariidae. Like the other longspurs, it is a small ground-feeding bird that primarily eats seeds. It breeds in prairie habitats in Canada and the northern United States and winters to the south in the United States and Mexico.

These birds have a short conical bill, a streaked back and a white tail with a dark tip. In breeding plumage, the male has black underparts, a chestnut nape, a yellow throat and a black crown. Other birds have light brown underparts, a dark crown, brown wings and may have some chestnut on the nape.

Measurements:

Length: 5.1–6.5 in (13–16.5 cm)

Weight: 0.6–0.8 oz (17–23 g)

Wingspan: 25–27 cm

Aliases

Calcarius ornatus

Range

Range map of Mountain plover