The thick-billed longspur, also known as McCown's longspur, is a small ground-feeding bird in the family Calcariidae, which also contains the other longspurs and snow buntings. It is found in North America and is the only species in the genus Rhynchophanes.
Region
North American Great Plains
Typical Environment
Breeds in the shortgrass prairies of the northern Great Plains, extending from the north-central United States into southern Canadian Prairies. In winter it moves to the southern Great Plains and adjacent desert grasslands of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It strongly prefers open, sparsely vegetated ground with patches of bare soil, often where grazing or disturbance keeps vegetation short. It uses native prairie, overgrazed pastures, fallow fields, and stubble.
Altitude Range
300–2200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The thick-billed longspur (formerly known as McCown's longspur) is the sole member of the genus Rhynchophanes and is adapted to sparsely vegetated shortgrass prairies. Males perform fluttering song-flights over territories in spring. It favors heavily grazed or disturbed ground, including prairie dog towns and stubble fields. The species has declined with the loss and alteration of native prairie but remains globally not at immediate risk.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, bounding flight; display flights are fluttering and buoyant
Social Behavior
Often forms loose flocks outside the breeding season; becomes territorial on breeding grounds. Nests are shallow cups on the ground concealed by grass clumps; the female builds the nest and lays 3–5 eggs. Both parents typically feed the nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A soft, tinkling series of trills and twitters, frequently delivered during a fluttering display flight. Calls include dry trills and sharp chips used to keep contact in flocks.
Plumage
Sandy-brown, finely streaked upperparts with pale underparts; overall cryptic and well-matched to prairie soils. Breeding males show a contrasting gray-and-white head pattern and a dark belly patch; females and nonbreeding birds are buffy and more uniformly streaked. The bill appears short and thick-based.
Diet
Eats seeds of grasses and forbs for much of the year, switching to more insects in the breeding season. Prey includes grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and caterpillars, along with occasional spiders. Forages by walking or running on open ground and picking items from the surface or low vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in short, open prairie with patches of bare soil, overgrazed pastures, prairie dog towns, and agricultural stubble or fallow fields. Often selects recently disturbed or heavily grazed sites where visibility and access to seeds and insects are high.
