762 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
ing their white tails as they go overhead, and announcing their identity 
by a little chirrup chirrup ” (MS). 
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: Calcarius ornatus (J. K. Townsend) 
Description. — Male: Length (skins) 4.6-5.0 inches, wing 3.2-3.S, tail 2-2.4, 
bill .4. Female: Length (skins) 4.7-5.6 inches, wing 3-3.3, tail 1.9-2.2, bill .4. 
Bill small, wings long and pointed, tail more than half hidden by pointed upper 
coverts, hind toe very long, and nearly straight. Adult male in summer: Broad super¬ 
ciliary stripe, chin, and throat white , in striking contrast to black of crown and under¬ 
parts (black of underparts sometimes mixed with rufous or chestnut); hind neck 
chestnut-rufous; rest of upperparts streaked; tail feathers, except middle pair, white at 
base, two or three lateral feathers entirely white; in full plumage lesser coverts black, 
tipped with white. Adult male in winter: Similar, but black 
and chestnut of head and underparts obscured or concealed 
by brownish or buffy tips to feathers. Adult female: Grayish 
huffy brown, streaked above and sometimes below. In winter, 
plumage softer and colors more blended. Young: Upper- 
parts dusky, feathers bordered with brownish buff and whitish, 
giving ringed appearance; wing coverts tipped with whitish; 
line over eye indistinct, ear coverts and throat marked with 
dusky; rest of underparts grayish buff, streaked, especially on breast. 
Remarks.— The female is an obscure bird but may be recognized by its long 
hind toe and tail pattern. In flight the “white tail 99 is very conspicuous (Coues). 
Fig. 136. 
Foot of Longspur 
Range.— Breeds in Transition and Upper Sonoran Zones from Montana, south¬ 
eastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and Manitoba south to Minnesota, central 
Kansas, and northern Wyoming; winters from Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa to 
Arizona, Sonora, and southern end of Mexican tableland. Recorded from British 
Columbia. 
State Records. —The Chestnut-collared Longspur reaches New Mexico from 
its northern breeding ground about the middle of the general fall migration; Willis, 
September 12, 1883 (Henshaw); near Koehler Junction, abundant after September 
12, 1913 (Kalmbaeh); near Corona, October 19, 1902 (Gaut); Gila River, October 17, 
1873 (Sennett); Apache, October 1, 1889 (Anthony); Tularosa, November 10, 1873 
(Henshaw). 
In winter, at the south end of the San Mateo Mountains, it was abundant in 
the rank grass on open mesas and ridges, December 7-10, 1915 (Ligon), and since it 
occurs all winter in Colorado, it undoubtedly does the same in New Mexico. When 
Anthony arrived at Apache in February, 1886, lie found it present and it had pre¬ 
sumably been there all winter. It was an abundant species and remained until 
April 10. It had been noted at Silver City from February 23 to March 13, 1884 
(Marsh), and was taken there March 9, 1914 (Kellogg), at Fort Union, March 22, 
1892 (Coale), and at Gage, April 17, 1885 (Mearns). The species therefore occurs 
in winter at 4,000-6,000 feet, while in migration it rarely ascends to 7,800 feet. 
The specimen taken at Fort Thorn and made the type of Baird’s melanomus 
proved to represent the winter plumage of ornatus. —W. W. Cooke. 
Nest.— On the ground, under a clump of tall weeds; made largely of dried 
grasses, lined with cow hair or feathers. Eggs: Usually 3, white, tinged with pink, 
buff, or green; distinctly spotted with blackish or shades of brown. 
Food. —Largely weed seed and insects, including crickets and grasshoppers, leaf 
beetles, and weevils. 
