General

McCown's Longspur: Medium-sized sparrow with streaked gray upperparts, plain gray underparts, and darker breast. Head has black crown, white face and throat, and heavy bill. White tail has diagnostic black inverted T. Wings have chestnut-brown bars. Female, winter adult, and juvenile are duller with brown wash over much of body.

Range and Habitat

McCown's Longspur: Breeds from southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan south to Wyoming, Colorado, and the western Dakotas. Spends winters from Colorado southward, mostly in western Oklahoma, northern and western Texas, and inland areas of northwestern Mexico. Found in shortgrass prairies, native grasslands, pastures, and agricultural areas.

Breeding and Nesting

McCown's Longspur: Two to four white to pale olive eggs marked with brown and lavender are laid in a shallow ground depression lined with grass, weeds, roots, and lichens. Eggs are incubated for 12 days by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

McCown's Longspur: Feeds on seeds, insects, and other arthropods. Captures prey by flushing, stalking, hawking, or gleaning.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit

Vocalization

McCown's Longspur: Song is a high-spirited warbling and twittering, "see, see, see me, see me, hear me, hear me, see." Call is a dry rattle or double-noted "churrip-churrip."

Similar Species

McCown's Longspur: Chestnut-Collared Longspur has a white tail with black triangle, black belly, and chestnut-brown collar.