Family: Emberizidae, New World Sparrows view all from this family

Description 5 1/2-6 1/2" (14-17 cm). Sparrow-sized. Similar to Lapland Longspur, but breeding male has wholly black underparts and some white on its face. Tail of female and winter male similar to that of Lapland Longspur but with more white at sides.

Habitat Dry elevated prairies and short-grass plains.

Nesting 3-5 pale green eggs, spotted with brown and lavender, in a grass-lined hollow under a clump of grass.

Range Breeds from Alberta and Manitoba south to Minnesota and Wyoming. Winters from Colorado and Kansas south to Texas and northern Mexico.

Voice   Soft, sweet, and tumbling, somewhat like that of the Western Meadowlark; also a hard ji-jiv in flight.

Discussion The upland prairies favored by the Chestnut-collared Longspur for nesting have been extensively planted in wheat, so these birds are much less numerous than in the past. They need only a small area, however, and often several pairs will crowd into a patch of land or even the narrow strips of unplowed grassland along highways. Here the males can be seen singing from the tops of fence posts, rocks, or tall weed stalks.