Other Scientific Names
Calcarius mccownii [BirdLife International (2004, 2008)], Calcarius mccownii [Stotz et al. (1996)], Calcarius mccownii [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]
Other Names (World)
McCown's Longspur, Thick-billed Longspur
Breeds from southern Canada (south-eastern Alberta and south-central Saskatchewan) southern in USA to central Montana, extreme south-eastern Idaho, eastern Wyoming, north-eastern Colorado and north-western Nebraska. Winters in south-eastern California (rare), central and south-eastern Arizona, central New Mexico, west-central Kansas and central Oklahoma and western and south-central Texas, and northern Mexico (south to northern Durango, occasionally Zacatecas).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 1,100,000 (2010).
Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) [XC371737]
by Thomas Magarian from Kevin Rim, Toole County, Montana, United States (call, song)
Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) [XC14375]
by Thomas Magarian from Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado, United States (aerial displays)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Sometimes placed in genus Calcarius, and has hybridized with Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), but apparently is closer in affinities to Plectrophanax. Has been suggested that those two genera be placed with present genus in a separate family, Calcariidae.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet