Smith’s Longspur
Calcarius pictus
Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) — 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 Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) is a member of the Calcariidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 26.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Calcariidae Longspurs, Snow Buntings
- Genus Calcarius
- Species pictus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Calcariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Smith’s 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 Smith’s Longspur is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) belongs to the Calcariidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA n Alaska and Canada; se Alaska and w Canada.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.1 cm and a tail of around 6.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 711,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Smith’s Longspur?
The Smith’s Longspur is a small bird that weighs around 26.7 g.
Where does the Smith’s Longspur live?
The Smith’s Longspur is found across North America with a range covering NA n Alaska and Canada; se Alaska and w Canada, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Smith’s Longspur belong to?
The Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) belongs to the Calcariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Smith’s Longspur eat?
The Smith’s Longspur is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Smith’s Longspur migrate?
The Smith’s Longspur is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Smith’s Longspur endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Smith’s Longspur make?
1 real field recording of the Smith’s 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 Smith’s Longspur's range?
The Smith’s Longspur has a mapped global range of about 711,000 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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