283 
ground ahead of the observer in small groups and large flocks with happy 
undulating flight, lilting a merry chorus of little “chirs” Most of these 
are Lapland Longspurs, though occasional flocks of Smith’s occur. 
Economic Status. Coming as they do in early spring and autumn, 
weed-seed is about all that they can attack. Their myriad numbers and 
the closeness with which they search the ground must be responsible for 
an enormous consumption of weed-seed. 
537. Smith’s Longspur. painted longspur. Calcarius pidus. L, 6-50. A 
brownish buffy bird, striped with brown above. Adult male with black crown; a white 
superciliary line; cheek black with white spot in centre and with 
narrow white line below, separating the black from the pale warm 
buff throat, which latter colour extends evenly over all lower parts, 
but is ruddiest on breast (Figure 262). Lesser wing-coverts black 
with a large white spot. Females are similar, but have the black 
and white head marks replaced by buffy stripes on crown and a 
dark spot at tip of ear-coverts, like the autumn juvenile Lapland 
Longspur. Autumn juveniles are like the female, but with less 
white on wing-coverts. Figure 262 
Distindions. A generally buffy bird. The spring male, with Smith’s Longspur; 
its striking black and white head-marking, is unmistakable. scale, 
Females and juveniles very like juvenile Lapland Longspurs, but 
buffier and with the abdomen almost concolour with breast instead of being nearly or 
quite white. At a glance, somewhat like the female or autumn Bobolink ; but more even 
and of a ruddier buff, and the crown without a well-marked median line. One of the 
largest of the Longspurs. 
Field Marks. Spring male a buffy bird, with strikingly patterned black and white 
head, buff throat, and breast. The most buffy of the Longspurs. 
Nesting. On the ground, on the northern Barren-grounds. 
Distribution. The interior of North America. Breeds from Mackenzie river to 
Hudson bay, migrates through the Prairie Provinces, and has occurred in British 
Columbia. 
Only a migrant in cultivated Canada, passing though quickly in spring 
and autumn. Not nearly so common nor so generally distributed as the 
Lapland Longspur, but appearing in flocks of considerable size when it 
does occur. 
538. Chestnut-collared Longspur. Calcarius omatus. L, 5-85. Plate LIV B. 
A smaller Longspur than the preceding two. Spring male: breast and most of under- 
parts, black, often more or less tipped with grey feather-edges and 
sometimes with chestnut. Throat and face cream; crown and tips 
of ear-coverts, black. A strong, white, superciliary line. A dis- 
tinct chestnut collar about nape and base of neck. Back streaked 
in shades of brown and ashy-ochre. Female: dull ashy-brown, 
striped above, but often the streaks are nearly worn away. 
Throat generally light to white, and usually more or less black 
feather bases showing vaguely through the light of the breast 
and underparts. Autumn juveniles show very little distinctive 
Tail of Chestnut-collared c ^ aracter > m °sfly ashy-ocnie, softly streaked with biown 
Longspur; scale, i. * a ^ ove * 
Distinctions. The smallest of the Longspurs (wing 3-25 or 
under). The spring male is unmistakable, with cream throat and 
face, black breast, and undeiparts. The Lapland Longspur has a similar chestnut collar, 
but has black throat and is white beneath. The latter is, however, only a migrant 
through southern Canada, instead of a summer resident. In summer, needs to be separated 
only from McCown’s Longspur, which is larger and has a white throat, face, and under- 
parts, and a crescentic black gorget across the breast. Females are light ashy-grey, 
softly striped above and nearly uniform below, like those of the Chestnut-collared, but are 
decidedly whiter, being ashy rather than ochreish. Females and juveniles are best 
distinguished from other Longspurs by smaller size. 
Figure 263 
