Photo: Needsmoreritalin / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Calcarius ornatus
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) is a member of the Calcariidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 20.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Calcariidae Longspurs, Snow Buntings
- Genus Calcarius
- Species ornatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Calcariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) belongs to the Calcariidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA sc Canada and nc USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 799,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-collared Longspur?
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is a small bird that weighs around 20.3 g.
Where does the Chestnut-collared Longspur live?
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is found across North America with a range covering NA sc Canada and nc USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Chestnut-collared Longspur belong to?
The Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) belongs to the Calcariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut-collared Longspur eat?
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut-collared Longspur migrate?
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Chestnut-collared Longspur endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Chestnut-collared Longspur make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-collared Longspur — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chestnut-collared Longspur's range?
The Chestnut-collared Longspur has a mapped global range of about 799,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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