Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-94
| Common name: |
Chestnut-collard Longspur |
| Scientific name: | Calcarius ornatus |
| Date: | 12/29/2024 |
| Time: | 1:45pm~ |
| Length of time observed: | 20 seconds |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Blue Creek Valley |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | 41.737205, -112.459492 |
| Elevation: | 4,500ft~ |
| Distance to bird: | 5m at closest |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | calm, 38F |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Description: Size of bird: | small passerine |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | passerine |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brownish |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | stout, grainivore |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
We had been specifically been looking for large flocks of Horned Larks to find longspurs, and found some very large flocks in this wheat field. It didn't take long looking through the flocks to find some Laplands, had 3 together in the same view in the scope. But the flocks were very flighty with a constant stream of birds flying over and around, landing then getting up, which made things challenging. As we were scoping I heard the distinctive squeaky flight call of a Chestnut-collared Longspur, looked up and spotted the bird as it flew right over head and got my binos on it, then it dropped and banked showing me the back, noted the all brownish head, back and wings, with faint wingbars, but the tail was most striking being white with a dark blackish triangle in the middle, then it banked again and landed showing me the sooty blackish belly. Unfortunately it landed in tall wheat stubble and was not visible, then the flock spooked again so I was not able to get it in the scope or photos. However even my brief look showed the unique tail pattern and black belly that only a Chestnut-sided Longspur has. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | I heard the distinctive squeaky "kiddle" flight call 1st and infact the flight call is what got me on the bird, I heard it then looked for it in flight and watched it fly and then land in the wheat stubble |
| Behavior: | Mixed in with a large flock of Horned Larks, with a few Lapland Longspurs also present, all of which were feeding in wheat fields |
| Habitat: | Mostly wheat fields with some grassy pastures nearby |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Lapland Longspur-seen a few minutes earlier, much more richly colored
with rusty brown, white and black. White belly, black streaks on flanks,
pink bill, only 1 white feather in outer tail feathers, different drier
flight rattle calls Thick-billed Longspur-in flight have a white tail with black T pattern, no white wingbars, paler belly, different drier flight rattle calls Snow Bunting-similar flight call but large white wing patches and white head and belly Smith's Longspur-buff belly, less white in tail, different drier flight rattle calls |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, several. I made a special trip this June to their nesting grounds in Wyoming and saw many birds in the prairie, including watching males do their flight display songs |
| References consulted: | Sibley app |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | I was leading my Birds of Utah Class with 7 participants |
| Date prepared: | 12/30/24 |
| Additional material: |
No_additional_Materials |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S207110225 |