Chestnut-collared Longspur Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesChestnut-collared Longspur
Breeding male
Stocky grassland bird with a stout bill. Breeding males have a black belly, yellowish throat, and a rusty nape. Flashes white outer tail feathers in flight.
© David M. Bell / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, May 29, 2019Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding birds are grayish buff overall with dusky streaks on the back. Underparts are grayish with blurry streaks. Note rather plain face with faint marks around the ear.
© Jacob Drucker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 13, 2016Breeding male
Males sing a descending melodious warble, resembling a Western Meadowlark, from exposed perches such as tall blades of grass, small shrubs, or fencing wire.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 29, 2011Not all videos have sound
Adult male
Stocky grassland bird that walks or runs along the ground. Adult males have a black belly, a chestnut nape, and a yellowish throat.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, April 19, 2014Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding birds are grayish buff overall with dusky streaks on the back and blurry streaks on the belly. Note rather plain face with faint marks around the ear.
© Justyn Stahl / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 24, 2016Breeding male
Outer tail feathers are white while inner tails are dark, forming a distinct triangle.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, June 24, 2012© Joachim Bertrands / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 09, 2020
Similar SpeciesLapland Longspur
Breeding male
Breeding male Lapland Longspurs have a black throat and a white belly, whereas breeding male Chestnut-collared Longspurs have a pale yellow throat and a black belly.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 03, 2013Similar SpeciesLapland Longspur
Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding/immature Lapland Longspurs have a chestnut patch in the wings that nonbreeding/immature Chestnut-collared Longspurs lack. They are also more richly colored overall with a more contrasting face pattern than Chestnut-collared Longspurs. In flight, Laplands show less white in the tail.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, December 19, 2003Similar SpeciesSmith's Longspur
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Smith's Longspurs have buffier and more streaky bellies than the rather plain nonbreeding Chestnut-collared Longspurs.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 25, 2011Similar SpeciesThick-billed Longspur
Breeding male
Breeding male Thick-billed Longspurs have a gray belly and head unlike male Chestnut-collared Longspurs, which have a black belly and a rusty nape.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, April 12, 2014Similar SpeciesThick-billed Longspur
Female
Female Thick-billed Longspurs have a rusty upper wingbar, whereas the upper wingbar on female/nonbreeding Chestnut-collared Longspurs is white. In flight the tail on Thick-billed Longspur flashes a black "T", while the tail pattern on Chestnut-collared is triangular.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 20, 2012Similar SpeciesVesper Sparrow
Adult/immature
Vesper Sparrows have stronger streaking on the sides and a white eyering, two features not seen on female/nonbreeding Chestnut-collared Longspurs.
© John Reynolds / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 04, 2016Similar SpeciesHorned Lark
Female
Female Horned Larks are slimmer than Chestnut-collared Longspurs with a thinner bill and a pale yellow throat.
© Bridget Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 04, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Longspurs and Snow Buntings(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Calcariidae)
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