McCown's Longspur

This shortgrass prairie longspur was long known as the McCown's Longspur, named after 19th-century US Army officer and naturalist John P. McCown. In 2020, the American Ornithological Society officially changed the species' English name to Thick-billed Longspur, removing the eponym in recognition of McCown's role as a Confederate general, while the scientific name remains unchanged. Both names refer to the same bird.

Breeding males are gray overall with a black cap, a black crescent-shaped patch across the breast, and a chestnut patch on the shoulder (lesser coverts), set off by a notably thick, conical bill, the source of the current name. Females and winter birds are much plainer streaky brown, but the heavy bill remains a useful clue.

The species favors especially sparse, short, or heavily grazed grassland, often the shortest and most heavily disturbed shortgrass prairie available, distinguishing its habitat preference from other longspurs that use somewhat taller grass.

Key Field Marks

• Notably thick, conical bill, heavier than other longspurs
• Breeding male: gray body, black cap, black crescent across the breast, chestnut shoulder patch
• Distinctive tail pattern: white with a black shape resembling an inverted T or anchor, different from the simple terminal band of Chestnut-collared Longspur

Similar Species

• Chestnut-collared Longspur: has a simpler tail pattern with a plain black terminal band and, in breeding males, black underparts and a chestnut nape collar rather than a breast crescent

The combination of an unusually thick bill and the anchor-shaped black tail pattern are the most reliable ways to separate this species from other longspurs.

This species breeds in shortgrass prairie of the northern Great Plains, including Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and adjacent southern Canada, with a preference for especially sparse, short, or heavily grazed grassland, often shorter than the grass used by Chestnut-collared Longspur in the same region.

In winter, birds move to open grassland and agricultural fields of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As with other shortgrass prairie specialists, the species has declined as native grassland has been lost to cropland conversion.

Behavior

Birds forage and nest on open, sparse ground, often in areas so heavily grazed or disturbed that vegetation is quite short, and can form loose flocks outside the breeding season.

Voice

The song is a melodic, tinkling warble similar in quality to other longspurs, often delivered during a brief flight display.

Feeding

Diet includes seeds and insects gathered from open, sparse ground, with insects more prominent during the breeding season.

Nesting and Breeding

The nest is a shallow cup built directly on bare or sparsely vegetated ground. Clutches typically contain 3-4 pale eggs with dark markings.