Photo: Andeansolitaire / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Thick-billed Longspur
Rhynchophanes mccownii
Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) — 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 Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) is a member of the Calcariidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 25.7 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 Rhynchophanes
- Species mccownii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Calcariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Thick-billed 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 Thick-billed Longspur is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) is a member of the Calcariidae family, within 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 25.7 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 5.7 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 686,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Thick-billed Longspur?
The Thick-billed Longspur is a small bird that weighs around 25.7 g.
Where does the Thick-billed Longspur live?
The Thick-billed 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 Thick-billed Longspur belong to?
The Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) belongs to the Calcariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Thick-billed Longspur eat?
The Thick-billed Longspur is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Thick-billed Longspur migrate?
The Thick-billed Longspur is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Thick-billed 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 Thick-billed Longspur make?
1 real field recording of the Thick-billed Longspur — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Thick-billed Longspur's range?
The Thick-billed Longspur has a mapped global range of about 686,000 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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Guides for this bird
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