Length: 5.75 to 6.5 inches | Wingspan: 10 to 11 inches | Seasonality: Migrant |
ID Keys: Winter birds have buffy underparts and nape, with a strong facial pattern on the male. White outer feathers bordering a black tail are prominent in flight. |
The Smith's Longspur is
usually a rare migrant through the state as they move between their Arctic
summering grounds and their wintering grounds on the southern Great
Plains. They generally don't mingle with other longspurs or Horned
Larks. They are known for their odd breeding behavior, in which males
vigorously sing to attract females, but don't defend territories, are highly
promiscuous, and often have nests of mixed parentage.
2) WhatBird - Smith's Longspur
3) Audubon Guide - Smith's Longspur
Click on the map below for a higher-resolution view |
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South Dakota Status: Rare migrant in the northeastern part of the state, extremely rare elsewhere. |