Lapland Longspur

Lapland Longspur does not visit Minnesota in breeding or nesting season. Non-breeding males and females look like sparrows. The back and crown are heavily streaked with black. There is a black outline around the ear. The wings are long and have a rusty wing patch. The flanks are lightly streaked. The belly is white and there is a narrow streaked band across the breast. The tail is relatively short and the outer tail feathers are white.

6″ to 6¼″ in length

8⅝″ to 11½″ wingspan

Open, weedy and grassy areas; plowed agricultural fields in winter.

Lapland Longspur is often seen in mixed flocks with Snow Buntings and American Pipits.

Late February to late May and early September to mid-November

Insects and seeds in the summer, seeds in the winter

Common to locally abundant migrant, common to uncommon winter resident in the south

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map