The Longspurs used to be placed in the Emberizidae family, but DNA evidence indicates the similarities are superficial. The relative new family Calcariidae contains not only longspurs but also some speices called Buntings. Other bunting families are: Cardinalidae and Emberizidae.
Genus Calcarius
The Longspurs are in genus Calcarius and also genus Rhynchophanes. The name refers to the long claw on the hind toe of each foot. They are chunky ground-feeding birds with long wings which are usually seen in open areas. They have short, stout seed-eater bills. They gather in large flocks in winter.
The breeding male Chestnut-collared Longspur has chestnut nape; white face; black underparts, crown. Others birds have light brown underparts; dark crown; brown wings; maybe some chestnut on mape. Similar to: Pipits. Pipits have thinner bills than Longspurs.
Longspur,_Chestnut-collared Calcarius ornatus Found: central USA to north Mexico
Chestnut-collared Longspur breeds on prairies.
Similar to: Horned Lark. Horned Lark has black stripe on chin; Chestnut-collared Longsput does not.
Similar to: McCown's Longspur. Male Chestnut-collared Longspur has rufous nape; male McCown's Longspur has rufous wingbar.
Image by: 1, 2) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico 3) Nick_Athanas - Colorado 4) Bill Bouton - Montana 5) Ken JamesSimilar to: Horned Lark. Horned Lark has black stripe on chin; Chestnut-collared Longsput does not.
Similar to: McCown's Longspur. Male Chestnut-collared Longspur has rufous nape; male McCown's Longspur has rufous wingbar.
1, 2) Nonbreeding male or female 3 - 5) Breeding male
Longspur,_Lapland also Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Found: North America
Lapland Longspur breeds on tundra.
Similar to: Smith's Longspur. Lapland Longspur has white belly; Smith's Longspur has buffy or orange belly.
Image/Image by: 1) Ansgar Walk - Wager Bay, Canada 2) Becky_Matsubara - CA 3) Aaron_Maizlish - CA 4) Richard Droker - Washington 5) omarrun 6) Francesco Veronesi - Nome, Alaska Similar to: Smith's Longspur. Lapland Longspur has white belly; Smith's Longspur has buffy or orange belly.
1, 2. 3) Female 4 - 6) Male
Longspur,_Smith's Calcarius pictus Found: North America
Smith's Longspur breeds on tundra, winters in southcentral USA. The breeding male has pumpkin-orange throat; black and white face pattern. Other birds have lightly streaked buffy underparts; dark crowns.
Similar to: Lapland Longspur. Lapland Longspur has white belly; Smith's Longspur has buffy or orange belly.
Image by: 1) Larry_Meade - Virginia (first seen in the state) 2) Paul Roisen, USFWS 3) Charlie Westerinen - near Sacramento, Californnia 4) Nate Swick - Missouri 5) Jerry Oldenettel Similar to: Lapland Longspur. Lapland Longspur has white belly; Smith's Longspur has buffy or orange belly.
1, 2) Female 4) nonbreeding male 5) Breeding male
Genus Plectrophenax
Bunting, McKay's Plectrophenax hyperboreus Found: North America (western coast of Alaska)
The breeding male McKay's bunting has mainly white plumage; small areas of black on wingtips, tail. Breeding female has streaked back. Nonbreeding birds have warm brown patches on cheeks, crown, sides of neck.
Image by: 1, 2) jomilo751, 2) Breeding female
Bunting, Snow Plectrophenax nivalis Found: northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia
The breeding male Snow Bunting has black and white on wings and upperparts; black bill; white underparts, head. Breeding female has rufous back; black wing-tips. Both nonbreeding sexes have rufous coloration on back. Nonbreeding birds have warm brown patches on cheeks, crown, sides of neck.
Image by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - Longyearbyen, Norway 2) Omar Runolfsson - Iceland 3, 5) Mark Kilner - England 4) Winnu 6) Donna Dewhurst USFWS 7) Drew Avery - Greenland 8) Graham Racher 
1) Juvenile 6, 7, 8) Male breeding
Genus Rhynchophanes - 1 species
The Longspurs are in genus Calcarius and also genus Rhynchophanes. The name refers to the long claw on the hind toe of each foot. They are chunky ground-feeding birds with long wings which are usually seen in open areas. Males declare ownership of a territory by singing during short flights over it. These birds gather in large flocks in winter.
Longspur,_McCown's Rhynchophanes mccownii Found: North America
McCown's Longspur breeds on prairies.
Similar to: Chestnut-collared Longspur. Male Chestnut-collared Longspur has rufous nape; male McCown's Longspur has rufous wingbar.
Similar to: Chestnut-collared Longspur. Male Chestnut-collared Longspur has rufous nape; male McCown's Longspur has rufous wingbar.
