2 Smith's Longspur: A Case of Neglect by Alan 1. Ryff

On 29 September 1985 at longspur to lack the descriptive Chippewa Park in Thunder Bay, subsection "Plumages." Just Thunder Bay District, Mike fragments of Oberholser's (1974) Matheson and Alan Wormington description match the field notes flushed a peculiar looking taken on the bird at Thunder Bay. longspur whose tail flashed with Thus I had to seek information extra white. Wormington sub­ elsewhere. I studied the 62 sequently showed this bird to Nick specimens of Smith's Longspur at Escott and me. It proved to be a the University ofMichigan Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus). Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor We observed it for over an hour at (hereafter UMMZ). Because four distances of 1-6 m. Since the of the specimens are juveniles, I streaks on its breast were more began to see the misleading conspicuous than the streaks of the aspects of certain field guides. Smith's Longspurs illustrated in Each juvenile was collected at the National Geographic Society Churchill, Manitoba: #83995, a (hereafter NGS) guide (1983), we male, on 5 August 1936; #83996, a I believed that this bird was an male, on 5 August 1936; #166586, a !' immature. But were we correct? female, on 28 July 1938; and This became a difficult question to #217737, a female labelled 22 days answer. old, on 24 July 1966. Frank M. Chapman had less In addition to specimens and available information than his publications, I used my field notes, counterparts of today. In 1911, he which Escott, Matheson, and I concluded that figure 6 of a Wormington verified at the time of I~ Fuertes' painting originally observation. Furthermore, I was published in Bird-Lore is a juvenile depend~nt on three of Wormington's Smith's Longspur because the black-and-white photographs of I white on its lesser wing coverts is the bird. inconspicuous (Chapman 1979b). The Smith's Longspur did not The longspur at Thunder Bay flock with the 450 or so Lapland lacked white epaulets. However, Longspurs (C. lapponicus) that were Ii Kenn Kaufman tells us that the scattered about the landfill at presence of a white shoulder patch Chippewa Park. Overall, it was is certain only for adult males in slightly smaller than the Lapland breeding pi umage (Farrand 1983). Longspurs. Either it stood with its In Bent's life histories (1968), plumage puffed out for minutes at Smith's is the only species of a time, or it slipped through the

Alan 1. Ryff, 26116 Culver, St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48081

ONTARIO BIROS APRIL 19!17 3 grass like a mouse. Upon finding grey (NGS 1983; Oberholser 1974). grasshoppers (Arcididae), it In every season, the upper and stunned and dismembered them lower mandibles of Lapland by pecking, before eating them Longspurs match each other in piecemeal. colour (Oberho1ser 1974). The tail of the Smith's Longspur Description at Thunder Bay seemed shorter The tarsi, bill, tail, and belly were than the tails of the Lapland the primary characteristics used in Longspurs. Ifit was indeed identifying the bird as a Smith's possible, I failed to see whether the Longspur. Its tarsi were pale flesh rectrices were pointed, a diagnostic pink, unlike the dark tarsi of feature offirst-winter longspurs Lapland Longspur described by (Balch 1982). In flight, the outer Balch (1982). Its symmetrical bill two pairs of rectrices of the Smith's was more slender than the bills of Longspur were markedly white, nearby Lapland Longspurs. whereas the white on the tails of The bill proftle of McCown's the flying Laplands glinted weakly Longspur (c. mccownii), when or did not show. This is because compared to that of Smith's duskiness can dilute or obliterate Longspur, is highly asymmetrical, the white on the outermost pair of for the lower mandible angles a Lapland's rectrices (Roberts sharply upward, and the base of 1955). Furthermore, the next pair the bill is much wider (NGS 1983). are dark, with just a terminal The upper mandible of the wedge ofwhite (Roberts 1955). The Thunder Bay bird was dusky, with striking tail patterns of McCown's a darker tip, and its lower and Chestnut-collared Longspurs mandible was pink. With the have various amounts of white on exception of the bill profIle of every rectrix, except the middle McCown's Longspur, the fall and pair (Roberts 1955). winter bill of Smith's Longspur is The Smith's Longspur at unique among 10ngspurs because Thunder Bay had an incomplete the black or plumbeous-brown white eye ring, light-brown lores, a upper mandible contrasts with the pale-buffsupercilium, a thin black light lower mandible, which can be whisker, a clear buff chin and throat brownish white, ecru drab, orange that contrasted with the breast, and or light yellow. The tip of the bill is an auricular patch, palest in the darker (Oberholser 1974). The middle and margined with the same colours mentioned by Oberholser shade of dusk as on the nape. are illustrated in Ridgway (1912). The scapulars and the feathers This colour contrast of the of the back varied from dusky to mandibles is evident in the black. The margins of the feathers photographs on page 281 ofThe on the upper back were pale buff, Audubon Master Guide to Birding: while those on the lower back were Volume 3 (Farrand 1983). grey (yellow grey?). Some scapular In fall and winter, the bills of margins we~e grey and others were adult and immature Chestnut­ pale buff. The greater coverts collared Longspurs (c. ornatus) are terminated into a white wing bar.

VOLUME 5 NUMBER 1 4

Emerson Kemsies (Bent 1968: rufous (Smithe 1975). Other than 1632) contends that female and in the yellow or red light of a low _.. immature Smith's Longspurs "... sun, this colour is too vivid.The may be distinguished ... by their tertials and greater coverts of the buffy abdomens, which are UMMZ specimens of Lapland concolor with the breast, and not Longspur are duller, and can best almost white as in Lapland". be described as colour 136, or raw The colour of the breast, sides, sienna (Smithe 1975). i belly, flanks, and undertail coverts Kaufman is cautious concerning II of the bird at Thunder Bay was the wing colour of Lapland uniformly soft like winter grass. Longspur: "Many winter birds of Smithe (1975) labelled the colour both sexes have extensive rufous in II I as pale pinkish buff (colour 121 the wings on the edges ofthe D). Juvenile specimen #83995 greater coverts, tertials, and I" (UMMZ) has this colour on its secondaries". Then Kaufman gives belly. an absolute: "Smith's Longspur . I never has ... obvious rufous on . Identification Problems wings" (Farrand 1983:278). So much for the bird's description, Red combines in different let us go into the controversies. amounts with yellow, black, and The throats and bellies of the four white to form the hues, shades, and juvenile specimens in UMMZ are tints of brown, cinnamon, and pale buff, but their upper breasts rufous. Since some eyes are more are a much darker buff. This sensitive to perceiving red than contrast can cause confusion with others, the recognition ofobvious juvenile and immature Lapland rufous or cinnamon is relative, Longspurs, whose breasts are buffy especially when the two colours and bellies are whitish (Bent 1968). are in a combination. Where does one draw the line The tertials and greater coverts between a pale-buff and an off­ of the Smith's Longspur at white belly? Thunder Bay were the same colour In addition to noting the as those of the four juvenile Lapland's white belly and specimens at UMMZ. Thin rufous, undertail, the NGS guide instructs like a watercolour wash, overlays us to compare the wing patterns of the cinnamon tertials and greater Lapland and Smith's Longspurs. coverts of these specimens, giving The guide focuses on the wing of their wings an eye-catching the Lapland: "Note also, especially quality, which is precisely what the in winter plumages, the reddish dull yellow-brown wings of the tertials and greater coverts" (p. adult specimens lack. The colour 410). This is what the Smith's of the wings, therefore, is a means Longspur is supposed to lack. of recognizing juvenile and, hence, However, the NGS artist immature Smith's Longspurs. erroneously illustrated the "reddish" A longspur leaves the nest in wings of the immature female and juvenile plumage and goes through juvenile Laplands by depicting postjuvenile moult to attain them as colour 140, or Pratt's immature, or first-winter, plumage.

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 5

This is a partial moult; the bird I described this colour as rusty sheds its body plumage and, at in my field notes. At the time I was least, its lesser wing coverts, but ignorant of Ridgway's (1912) and keeps its rectrices, remiges, and Smithe's (1975) subtle vocabulary. greater coverts (Dwight 1975). I still maintain that some observers Janet Hinshaw of the UMMZ would call the colour rufous. staff helped me classifY the colour Therefore, I prefer Ridgway's name on the outer webs of the tertials of cinnamon rufous. and greater coverts of the four The tertials and greater coverts juvenile specimens. Smithe (1975) of the winter male Smith's labelled the colour tawny (colour Longspur illustrated on page 411 38), with highlights ofclay (colour of the NGS guide (1983) are those 123 B). Ridgway (1912) called it of an immature. Their colour cinnamon rufous (plate XIV), with resembles the juvenile specimens highlights of ochraceous tawny at UMMZ. The wing of the female (plate XV). Villalobos-Dominguez Smith's Longspur illustrated on (1947) placed the colour on his the same page matches the wings chart at "Hue OOS," ranging from of the adult specimens of both 9° to 11 0, with the highlights of sexes in summer and winter 12°. plumages.

Figure 1: Immature Smith's Longspur at Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay District, 29 September 1985. Photo by Alan Wormington.

VOLUME 5 NUMBER I 6

Determining whether a 10ngspur late for a longspur to be in juvenile possesses or lacks reddish wings plumage. For example, as late as does not clinch its identification as 12 October, Roberts (1955) either a Lapland or a Smith's observed a Chestnut-collared Longspur. To complicate things, Longspur in juvenile plumage. the tertia1s and greater coverts of He did not state whether some Lap1ands are the same this bird was a resident or a colour as those ofimmature migrant. It was collected in Lac qui Smith's Longspur. An example is Parle County, Minnesota, which is UMMZ specimen # 58794, an at the eastern edge of the species' immature female Lapland with breeding range. However, Lapland pointed rectrices, collected 5 Longspurs, which nest on the November 1927 at Fish Point, tundra like Smith's Longspurs, can Tuscola County, Michigan. To begin to undergo postjuvenile make matters worse, the tertia1s moult in late July (Chapman and greater coverts of some 1979a). Laplands are drabber than those Certain features on the breast, ofimmature Smith's Longspur. back, hindneck, crown, and upper­ UMMZ specimen #58797 is an tail coverts of the Thunder Bay adult male Lapland with rounded bird raise the question of whether rectrices, collected 6 November it was in juvenile plumage or 1927 at Fish Point, Michigan. Its protracted postjuvenile moult. wings are raw sienna, or colour 136 The body feathers ofjuvenile (Smithe 1975). Moreover, a passerines have an obvious texture. Lapland painted by Fuertes and Dwight (1975:106) describes them labelled figure 5 (Chapman 1979a) as being "less distinctly pennaceous shows how drab a Lapland's wings than those of the adults". The can be. feather texture of the four juvenile One must expect people to work specimens ofSmith's Longspur only with what they have. Imagine appears obviously softer than a birder inexperienced with those of the adult specimens. As a autumn longspurs spotting an result of this softness, the dark immature Smith's-with its streaks across the upper breasts of cinnamon-rufous tertials and the juveniles are significantly greater coverts-among a flock of wider and more diffuse than the drab winged Laplands. Being streaks of the adult specimens. unaware that the immature is Wormington's photographs indeed a Smith's Longspur, the (Figures 1 and 2) show that the birder compares it with the Smith's Longspur at Thunder Bay Laplands illustrated on page 411 of did not have the breast streaks of a the NGS guide and makes an juvenile. Yet, they were more identification based on the numerous and coalescent than juvenile depicted at the bottom of those of most adult specimens at the page, for its wings have the UMMZ. Specimen #68714 is a richest hue. female collected on 17 February The date ofthe observation of 1917 in Franklin County, Kansas. the Thunder Bay bird, 29 Her breast streaks match those of September, is not necessarily too the photographed bird. Her

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 7 rectrices are too worn to determine patch, and continues as a thin line whether they are pointed or along the base of the throat. All rounded, but her wings are dull three photographs show part of yellow brown, the colour of an this highlighting, although the adult. whitish line along the base of the My field notes omit what two of throat is absent. the photographs (Figures 2 and 3) The median stripe on the crown show-two prominent white of the Thunder Bay bird was white, mantle stripes. Juvenile specimen with fine dark streaks. Specimen #83995 has two whitish stripes on #83995, the one with the the back, which are questionably questionably prominent mantle prominent if the plumage is stripes, is the only UMMZ rearranged in a lifelike position. specimen of Smith's Longspur to No other UMMZ specimen of have scattered whitish feathers on Smith's Longspur has two whitish the median stripe of its crown. Are mantle stripes. these the emerging feathers of first­ Each of the four juvenile winter plumage? The median specimens has whitish highlighting stripes of the other three juvenile that follows the rear edge of the specimens, as well as those of the hindneck, frames the auricular adult specimens, are buffy.

Figure 2: Immature Smith's Longspur at Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay District. 29 September 1985. Photo by Alan Wormington.

VOLUME 5 NlIMRF.R I 8

The upper-tail coverts of the bird Longspur at Thunder Bay merit at Thunder Bay were redder, or review. The cinnamon-rufous rustier, than its cinnamon-rufous tertiaIs and greater coverts tertials and greater coverts. determined that it was not an Oberholser (1974) states that the adult. The pattern of fine streaks upper-tail coverts of the juvenile across its upper breast showed that can approach russet, a colour it was not in juvenile plumage, at defined as being more reddish least not completely. Ifthe two than orange brown. Yet, no whitish mantle stripes and the UMMZ specimen has russet on whitish highlighting at the base of the upper-tail coverts. the head were isolated tracts of Several features ofthe Smith's juvenile plumage, the bird was in protracted juvenile moult. More likely however, these two features, as well as the white median stripe on the crown, the russet upper-tail coverts, and the conspicuous pattern of the breast streaks, are variables of fresh first-winter plumage. Yet, some adults in winter plumage may also have whitish mantle stripes and whitish highlighting on the head. To determine the range of these features will take more than just the 62 specimens at UMMZ.

Breeding Range Compared with the immensity of North America, the breeding range of Smith's Longspur is just a strip along the outside edge of the arctic tree line. The birds nest from Anaktuvuk Pass in Alaska's Brooks Range to Hudson Bay in Ontario (Gabrielson and Lincoln 1959) and in the highlands of southern Alaska, southern Yukon Territory, and adjoining British Columbia (AOU 1983; Godfrey 1986). The farthest south and east that Figure 3: Immature Smith's Long­ Smith's Longspurs nest is the spur at Thunder Bay, region ofCape Henrietta Maria Thunder Bay District, (Godfrey 1986), which projects into 29 September 1985. Hudson Bay at 55 0 09' north Photo by Alan Wormington. latitude and 82 0 20' west longitude

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 9

(Figure 4). This headland is the headquarters of Lake Superior most arctic portion ofOntario. In Provincial Park. Algoma District, summer, the south coast of on 19 May 1979 by K Whillans Hudson Bay is exposed to the and M.R. Browning (Baxter 1985). Arctic air stream and has a mean Joseph A. Hagar (unpublished July temperature of 12° Celsius or ms.) saw a few and collected one less (Fah1gren and Matthews 1985). individual (not preserved) during Windswept tundra and permafrost the period 24-27 August 1955 at Big are continuous along the coast. Piskwamish Point (James Bay), Just inland, however, tamarack Cochrane District (A Wormington, (Larix laricina), black spruce (Picea pers. comm., 1986). This is the only mariana), and white spruce (P. Moosonee area record, but not glauca) form a patchwork of forest totally convincing, as the call notes and tundra (Fahlgren and were described as "churr ... Matthews 1985). Consequently, churr", which corresponds rather Ontario's nesting Smith's well to Chestnut-collared Longspur, Longspurs are limited to the but not Smith's. seaboard. To date, the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) has Ontario Records rejected one record and accepted Northern Ontario records of two for southern Ontario, now Smith's Longspur, away from its defined as the area south of the breeding range, include several annual isotherm of4°C from the north shore of Lake (Wormington and James 1984). Superior in Thunder Bay District. The rejected record is for An immature female which was Amherstview, Lennox and Adding­ collected (specimen #57194, Royal ton County, on 24 September 1973 Ontario Museum, Toronto) by (Wormington 1985). The accepted George E. Atkinson in September records are ofsingle birds for Long 1892 at Port Arthur (now Thunder Point, Regional Municipality of Bay) constitutes the first Ontario Haldimand-Norfolk, on 20 April record (Fleming 1913). Tom Hince 1980 and from 31 October-2 observed a male at Marathon on November 1984 (Wormington 24 April 1983 (Weir 1983) and what 1986). may have been a different male Two additional southern Ontario (although considered likely the records for Simcoe County (Devitt same bird by the observer)·l0 km 1967) are cited in Speirs (1985) but away at Heron Bay on the same have yet to be reviewed by the day (A. Wormington, pers. comm., OBRC. 1986). There are two spring records Long Point, at 80° 15' west. may for eastern Lake Superior: a female have the easternmost acceptable observed on 9 May 1981 at sightings of Smith's Longspur for Caribou Island, Thunder Bay Canada. Ifso. they are only r 5' District, by 1. Robert Nisbet east of the species' nesting range. (Baxter 1985; Wormington et al. Farther east. the records are of 1986) and two males observed on "accidentals" in the United States: the lawn of the Red Rock Lake Connecticut (AOU 1983), New

VOLUME 5 NUMBER I 10

80', , ,I , I f ,I I I ,I

,.

Breeding Range of Smith's Longspur Winter Range of Smith's Longspur

Source: National Geographic Society (1983) Figur~ 4: Breeding range and winter range of Smith's Longspur.

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 11

York (AOU 1983), Pennsylvania Thunder Bay'is 'given for each (Poole 1964), Maryland (Wilds record: 174,kID south, one bird in, 1983), and North Carolina (Potter, Ontonagon County" Michigan on et al. 1980). There are two 19th­ 20 October'1981 -Cressen 1982); 470 century specimens from Chester, Ian south, severaljusLWest of South Carolina (Sprunt and Weyauwega, Wisconsin, on 22 Chamberlain 1970), which, at 81 ° October 1983 (Tessen 1984); and 14' west, is farther west than Long 546 km south; one in Columbia Point. County, Wisconsin, on29 September 1978 (Tessen 1979). Fall Migration Patterns Perhaps,thesebJrds found How does a September record of a themselves at dawn out over the Smith's Longspur on Lake middle of Lake Superior on a Superior's north shore compare north wind and',had no choice but with the species' continental status to continue south. ' as an autumn migrant? Is the aUfumn migration to the Southbound longspurs migrating plains a direct flight from wherever from Hudson Bay via 88° west each bird's nesting territory longitude have t<;> cross 780 km of happens to ,be; P.rohflbly not. Let forest before arriving at the top of us consider passibk.reasons why. ' Lake Superior. Fearing the lake's Because Smith,'s Longspurs are sealike vastness (82,414 km2), the birds of the tundra" they probably longspurs gather along its delay their south,~iard cros~ing of shoreline in open areas, as the 450 the taiga. Ifweathe'i.pennits, they or so Lapland Longspurs did at remain within the narrow breeding the landfill in Thunder Bay's range and follow 'the: tree line Chippewa piuk on 29 September southeastward acias's the District 1985. From the top of Lake of Mackenzie and' continue into Superior the shoreline guides the the District of Keewatin. Near 95° migrants either to the southeast or west longitude, the west coast of to the southwest. Hudson Bay stops them. Thus, For the period 1979-1985, their numbers build up in American Birds gives three fall Keewatin. ' records, of. single Smith's. LOilgspurs To the west or Keewatin; the ,", fOr,DtiIlith;',Minnesota, located at , " ,': lit~rature may describe the species' ":,' ;, ',the )Vest e'nd'of''Lake Supen6'r: The: roig'ratory stanis accurately. " dates of thes~ observ~tionsspan, ,9­ Smith's Longspurs are considered ,26 .September(Tessen 1980; 1981; , , ~asual in British Columbia and 1983). For the period 1978-1985; , Montana (AOU 1983) and rare in ,American Birds gives for the' Alberta and Saskatchewan (Salt '''Western Great Lakes Region," and Salt 1916). three fall 'records which are south , , That most of the population may of Lake' Superior, but east of migrate due south from Keewatin Duluth, Curiously, each of the alone is no' coincidence. At the tree ,: three records is at or near 89° west line, southern Keewatin spans the 'lo'ngitude. Thunder Bay is Situated area from 95° to 102° west. These at 8

VOLUME 5 NUMBER i 12

define the species' traditional rare) migrant, with dates ranging flyway on the Great Plains. The from 9 September-17 November key factor influencing this flyway (Green and Janssen 1975). It is an was probably the presence of uncommon migrant in South bluestem grass (Andropogon Dakota, chiefly in the eastern half gerardi). As tall-grass prairie, this of the state, where the normal species once grew along 9r west period of migration is "possibly" longitude for 1,200 lan, spanning during late September and October the area from Winnipeg, Manitoba, (Whitney et al. 1978:269). In to Lincoln County, Oklahoma Nebraska it is an uncommon (Godfrey 1966; Johnsgard 1979; migrant in October (Bruner et al. Figure 5). In winter, tall-grass 1903). prairie was more likely to protrude From 1977-1985, American Birds through the snow than short-grass gives only three locations on the prairie which, for the most part, northern plains where Smith's grew to the west of the lOOth Longspurs are reported somewhat meridian (Johnsgard 1979)-where consistently. All are between 96° Smith's Longspurs are not and 98° west longitude. Deuel typically reported in winter. County in South Dakota is Before October arrives-the situated about 60 km south of the month when snow covers the southernmost headwaters of the entire Northwest Territories Red River (Serr 1979; Lamberth (Energy, Mines and Resources 1985, 1986). Daily counts of 25 Canada 1974)-the birds must birds are usual in Deuel County in cross the great zone of boreal fall (Serr 1979). The other two forest, regardless of where they locations are Grand Forks in happen to be on the arctic tree North Dakota (Serr 1979, 1980) line. and Rothsay Wildlife Management The eastern shoreline of Lake Area (Tessen 1978, 1979), a Winnipeg is relatively straight and remnant of virgin prairie in extends southward for about 300 Wilkins County, Minnesota. Both km, conveniently guiding south­ are within the drainage system of bound longspurs across the boreal the Red River. The high counts forest of Manitoba. Flowing were at Rothsay WMA, with 200 approximately along 9r west plus birds on 15 October 1977 and longitude, the Red River leads 61 on 21 October 1978 (Tessen upstream (south) from Lake 1978, 1979). The records for these Winnipeg into the open plains of three areas collectively occurred North Dakota and Minnesota. from 12 October to 4 November By 15 September, some Smith's during the period 1977-1985. Longspurs are on the edge of the Smith's Longspur is "normally Great Plains at Oak Lake, unreported during autumn" in Manitoba (Bent 1968), which is Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, 1,300 km south of the tundra and Ohio, and Kentucky (Peterjohn 70 km north of the United States/ 1983a: 189). Canada border. In western Minne­ Mumford and Keller (1984:326) sota this species is a regular (but write in Birds ofIndiana that the

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 13

~:i~·r Arctic Tree Line ffiID Bluestem Prairie (Andropogon - Panicum • Sorghastrum) ~ Mosaic of Bluestem Prairie and Oak-Hickory Forest ~ Short-grass and Coastal Prairie

Source: Godfrey (1966); Johnsgard (1979); Kuchler (1964); National Geographic Society (1947)

Figure 5: Extent of prairie habitat in North America.

VOLUME 5 NUMBER I 14

arrival date of Smith's Longspur Iowa are considered to be those of "is unknown" in autumn because early spring migrants (Petetjohn the earliest fall date, being 7 1984, 1985b, 1986b). November, is in the southwestern During the period 1980-1985, part of the state. But what is wrong Amen'can Birds gives only one with the fall reports for winter record for Iowa-a bird on northwestern Indiana? Brock a Christmas count (Petetjohn (1986) gives two October records, 1984). Although Bent (1968), one for 1957 and one for 1983, both Oberholser (1974), Imhof(1976), at the Indiana Dunes on Lake and the AOU (1983) all place Michigan. ;.. Iowa within the species' winter Bent (1968) gives 27 November range, according to Dinsmore as the late departure date for et al. (1984:301) "Iowa lies north of, southwestern Ohio, although and perhaps formerly in, the Thomson (1983) does not cite any wintering area for Smith's fall records for Ohio. Longspur". The historical status of Smith's Why did the species perhaps Longspur is contradictory in parts winter in Iowa and apparently now of the Midwest. Consider that does not? Longspurs take extra Kumlien and Hollister (1903) write measures to avoid snow, the "white that, prior to 1852, Smith's death" of the plains. For instance, Longspurs reportedly migrated in on nights of heavy snowfall in the considerable numbers in Wisconsin. winter of 1982-1983, when Lapland The authors themselves encountered Longspurs were abundant in Smith's Longspurs a few times in Pawnee County, Kansas, Seltman Wisconsin, where it was a fall heard them flying overhead at all transient in the southern counties. hours (Williams 1983). Seventy-one years later, Gromme Through the centuries, the tall­ (1974) gives it only accidental grass prairie must have saved status for Wisconsin. longspurs caught in the .unexpected snowstorms ofautumn Winter Range and spring, for the impressive seed Kumlien and Hollister (1903:95) stems ofbluestem grass, standing state: "Smith's Longspur ... is not 1-2 m tall (Hitchcock 1971), are at all rare on the prairies ofIllinois likely to protrude through the in winter". However, during the snow. period 1980-1985, American Birds In the 19th century, when tall­ gives no winter records and only grass prairie still grew from South one fall record for Illinois: a single Dakota to Indiana, Smith's bird near Springfield on 5 Longspurs may have wintered in November 1985 (PeteIjohn 1986a). parts ofIowa and Illinois. But all For the same period, adjacent things come to an end. 'The steel Missouri has five November plough broke the prairie's back records and one December record and in a few decades the tall grass (Kleen 1981; Petetjohn 1983a, was gone. Fewer birds returned 1983b, 1985a). Records in the latter each winter, for too many had half of February for Missouri and starved in the aftermath of the

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 15

preceding winter's storms. Smith's Longspurs the opportunity Weakened by hunger, where would to expand their winter range into they go ifthey could? To the south the formerly wooded sections of there was no longspur habitat, just eastern Texas, northern Louisiana, the wooded uplift of the Ozark and Arkansas. The old Municipal Mountains and the wet bottom­ Airport of Shreveport had lands of the Mississippi River. consistently.been the Louisiana The progenitors oftoday's wintering site for Smith's Smith's Longspurs did not tum Longspurs until at least 1971 eastward to winter in Iowa and (Lowery 1974). Farther east, 10 Illinois. Instead, they continued were at the airport of Stuttgart in due south via the safety of the 97th east Arkansas on 17 November meridian-the way of the bluestem 1984, about 70 km from the grass. Though the prairie is gone, Mississippi River (Purrington the flyway remains. En route, the 1985). birds are sometimes reported in East ofthe Mississippi, the Kansas; for example, during the winter status of Smith's Longspur period 20 October-30 November is nebulous in the South. Imhof 1984, Smith's Longspurs "invaded" (1976) states that it winters Lyon, Morris, and Chase Counties irregularly in western Tennessee (Williams 1985: 74). No numbers and central Alabama. However, were given, but these three the AOU (1983) treats it as a counties lie between 96 0 and 9r transient for central Alabama. west. Bent (1968) and Oberholser (1974) Smith's Longspurs are common list northwest Mississippi as a part winter residents in Oklahoma of the winter range, but the AOU (Wood and Schnell 1984), and with (1983) does not. good reason. Here, at 35° north, the annual snowfall can be less Spring Migration than 2.5 em, and the daily normal In spring, tropical air often arrives temperature can remain above in the United States as a southwest freezing all winter (Visher 1954). wind. Over the southern plains it Such mild conditions spell success collides with the polar air mass for longspurs, even though crops and forms violent cyclonic fronts. and grazing cattle have transformed which may move quickly, the Oklahoma grasslands. sometimes pushing migrating birds Farther south, most records to the northeast. This may be why occur in east Texas, with the Smith's Longspurs appear in greatest concentration near the spring to the northeast of the Oklahoma border (Oberholser plains-in Iowa. Illinois, Indiana. 1974). Smith's Longspurs are and even Ohio-places where they casual in west Texas (Oberholser are generally unreported in fall. 1974) and perhaps casual in In March, migrant Smith's northeastern New Mexico (Bent Longspurs can be easy to locate in 1968) and Arizona (AOU 1983). the area of Springtield. Illinois. Expanding agriculture and the with the help of local birders building of airports have given (personal experience). They are

VOLUME 5 NtlMIlER I 16

regular in March and April in the Summary western third of Indiana (Mumford All that follows is speculation. The and Keller 1984). On 7 April 1982, majority ofSmith's Longspurs in a cold front with snow grounded autumn migration follow the an estimated 1,500 Smith's breeding range southeastward via Longspurs in Parke County, the tree line to southern Keewatin. Indiana (PeteIjohn 1982). Most From there, they cross the boreal records for central and south­ forest to the Great Plains. The western Ohio are in March and flyway then follows the former belt April (Thomson 1983). Thus far, of tall-grass prairie, approximating there are no reports offlocks to the the 97th meridian, from Manitoba north in Michigan's Lower to the mai'n winter range in Peninsula, just a single record of a Oklahoma. male for Midland on 25 April 1971 The immature Smith's Longspur (Soulen 1971). Excluding the fact that was observed at Thunder Bay, that Michigan is underbirded, Ontario, on 29 September 1985 where do the northbound birds of may belong to the nesting Indiana and Ohio go? Seemingly population ofOntario, which uses they are not regular in Wisconsin. the north shore of Lake Superior Nor do they probably outpace the as a flyway toward the plains. If receding snow line in the upper this is not the case, then the bird at Great Lakes. Thunder Bay was a mere stray, The birders ofOntario should southbound from Keewatin or consider the following: Iowa has Manitoba. but nine Smith's Longspurs reports Since the wings of adult Smith's for 1900-1930 and only three for Longspurs are a dull yellow brown, 1930-1981 (Dinsmore et ai. 1984). the bird at Thunder Bay was an However, an organized search in immature on account of its the spring of1982 produced nine cinnamon-rufous tertials arid sightings for six counties during 21 greater coverts. Furthermore, its March-I8 April. Dinsmore et al. conspicuous pattern ofbreast (1984:301) state that Smith's streaks, two whitish mantle stripes, Longspur is probably regular in whitish highlighting at the base of f' Iowa, but overlooked on account the head, white median stripe on i of its rarity and uneven the crown, and russet upper-tail disttibution in migration. Further­ coverts may be variables offresh more, "the species prefers grassy first-winter plumage. fields, where it is not likely to be encountered by birdwatchers.... Acknowledgements Spring flocks may contain I thank Alan Wonnington for breeding plumage males, which showing me the Smith's Longspur are easy to identify. Females and at Thunder Bay, for providing me winter plumage birds are more with three of his black-and-white difficult to separate from other photographs of the bird, and for longspurs". providing data on northern Ontario observations. Janet Hinshaw of the University of

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 17

Michigan Museum ofZoology Dwight, 1., Jr. 1975. The Sequence of assisted in my examination of Plumages and Moults of the Smith's Longspur specimens. Passerine Birds ofNewYork. The New York Academy of Literature Cited Sciences, New York, N.Y. American Ornithologists' Union. Energy, Mines and Resources 1983. Check-list ofNorth Canada. 1974. The National American Birds, 6th Edition. Atlas of Canada. Fourth Edition Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, (Revised). The Macmillan Kansas. Company ofCanada, Ottawa. Balch, L.G. 1982. Photo quiz. Fahlgren, J.E.J. and G. Matthews. Birding 14:227-228. 1985. North of 50°: An Atlas of Baxter, T.S.H 1985. The Birding Far Northern Ontario. Univer­ Handbook: Eastern Lake sity ofToronto Press, Toronto. Superior. Superior Lore, Wawa. Fa"and, 1., Jr.(Editor). 1983. The Bent, A.e. 1968. Life Histories of Audubon Society Master Guide North American Cardinals, to Birding. Volume 3: Old World Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Warblers to Sparrows. Alfred A Finches, Sparrows, and Allies: Knopf, Inc., New York. Part Three. Dover Publications, Fleming,J.B 1913. Ontario bird Inc., New York. . notes. Auk 30:225-228. Brock, KJ. 1986. Birds of the Gabrielson, IN and F.e. Lincoln. Indiana Dunes. Indiana Univer­ 1959. The Birds ofAlaska. The sity Press, Bloomington. Stackpole Company & Wildlife Bruner, L., R.H Wolcott and MH Management Institute. Harris­ Swenk. 1903. A Preliminary burg, Pennsylvania and Review of the Birds ofNebraska. Washington, D.C. Klopp & Bartlett Co., Omaha, Godfrey, WE. 1966. The Birds of Nebraska. Canada. National Museum of . Chapman, F.M 1979a. Fuertes print Canada, Bulletin No. 203. series begins with longspurs. Queen's Printer, Ottawa. American Birds 33:732-733. Godfrey, WE. 1986. The Birds of Chapman, F.M 1979b. Second in Canada. Second Edition. Fuertes print series. American National Museum of Natural Birds 33:828-829. Sciences, Ottawa. Devitt, o.E. 1967. The Birds of Green, I.e. and R.B. Janssen. 1975. Simcoe County, Ontario. Minnesota Birds: Where. When. Brereton Field Naturalists' Club, and How Many. The University Barrie. ofMinnesota Press, Minneapolis. Dinsmore, JJ., T.R Kent, D. Gromme. 0.J. 1974. Birds of Koening, P.e. Petersen and D.M Wisconsin. The University of Roosa. 1984. Iowa Birds. The Wisconsin Press. Madison. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

VOLUME 5 NUMBER I 18

Hitchcock, A.S. 1971. Manual ofthe Oberholser, H.e. 1974. The Bird Life Grasses of the United States: ofTexas. University ofTexas Volume Two. Second Edition by Press, Austin and London. A Chase. Dover Publications, Peterjohn, B.G. 1982. Middlewestern Inc., New York. prairie region. American Birds Imhot TA. 1976. Alabama Birds. 36:857-861. Second edition. The University Peterjohn, B.G. 1983a. Middle­ ofAlabama Press. western prairie region. American Johnsgard, PA. 1979. Birds of the Birds 37:185-189. . Great Plains: Breedi.ng Species Peterjohn, B.G. 1983b. Middle­ and Their Distribution. Univer­ western prairie region. American sity ofNebraska Press,Lincoln Birds 37:306-309. and London. Peterjohn, B. G. 1984. Midd1ewestern Kleen. V.M 1981. Middlewestern prairie region. American Birds prairie region. American Birds 38:322-325. 35:187-191. Peterjohn, B.G. 1985a. Middle­ Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Potential western prairie region. American Natural Vegetation of the Birds 39:59-63. Conterminous United States. Peterjohn. B.G. 1985b. Middle­ American Geographic Society, western prairie region. American New York. [map]. Birds 39:171-174. Kumlien, L. and N. Hollister. 1903. Peterjohn. B. G. 1986a. Middle­ The Birds ofWisconsin. Board western prairie region. American ofTrustees of the Milwaukee Birds 40: 118-123. Public Museum. Peterjohn. B. G. 1986b. Middle­ Lamberth, D. 1985. Northern Great western prairie region. American Plains region. American Birds Birds 40:285-289. 39:69-71. Poole, E.L. 1964. Pennsylvania Lamberth. D. 1986. Northern Great Birds. Livingston Publishing Plains region. American Birds Company, Narberth, 40: 131-134. Pennsylvania. Lowery, G.H., Jr. 1974. Louisiana Potter, E.F.. 1. Parnell and R.P. Birds. Louisiana State Univer­ Teulings. 1980. Birds of the sity Press, Baton Rouge. Carolinas. The University of Mumford, R.E. and e.E. Keller. 1984. North Carolina Press, Chapel The Birds ofIndiana. Indiana Hill. University Press, Bloomington. Purrington. R.D. 1985. Central National Geographic Society. 1947. southern region. American Birds Canada, Alaska and Greenland. 39:63-67. Washington, D.C. [map]. Ridgway. R. 1912. Color Standards National Geographic Society. 1983. and Color Nomenclature. Field Guide to the Birds of Published by the author. North America. Washington, Washington, D.C. D.C.

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Roberts, TS. 1955. A Manual for Tessen, D.D. 1983. Western Great the Identification ofthe Birds of Lakes region. American Birds Minnesota and Neighboring 37:182-185. States. The University of Tessen, D.D. 1984. Western Great Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. Lakes region. American Birds Salt, W.R andJ.R Salt. 1976. The 38:204-207. Birds ofAlberta. Hurtig . Thomson, T 1983. Birding in Ohio. Publishers, Edmonton, Alberta. Indiana University Press, Sen', E.M 1979. Northern Great Bloomington. Plains region. American Birds Villalobos-Dominguez, C. 1947. 33:188-191. Colour Atlas. Libreria EI Sen', E.M 1980. Northern Great Anteneo Editorial, Buenos Aires, Plains region. American Birds Argentina. 34: 174-176. Visher. s.s. 1954. Climatic Atlas of Smithe, FB. 1975. Naturalist's the United States. Harvard Color Guide. The American University Press, Cambridge, Museum of Natural History, Massachusetts. New York. Weir, RD. 1983. Ontario region. Soulen, TK 1971. Western Great American Birds 37:863-867. Lakes region. American Birds Whitney, NR, Jr., B.E. Harvell, B.K 25:746-750. Harris, N Holden, J. W. Johnson, Speirs, J.M 1985. Birds ofOntario. B.J. Rose and P.F. Springer. 1978. Volume II. Natural Heritage/ The Birds of South Dakota. Natural History Inc., Toronto. South Dakota Ornithologists' Sprunt, J.R., and E.B. Chamberlain. Union. Vermillion, South 1970. South Carolina Bird Life. Dakota. University of South Carolina Wilds, e. 1983. Finding Birds in the Press, Columbia, South National Capital Area. Smith­ Carolina. sonian Institution Press, Tessen. D.. D. 1978. Western Great Washington, D.C. Lakes region. American Birds Williams. Fe. 1983. Southern Great 32:206-210. Plains region. American Birds Tessen, D.D. 1979. Western Great 37:315-317. Lakes region. American Birds Williams. Fe. 1985. Southern Great 33:178-181. Plains region. American Birds Tessen. D.D. 1980. Western Great 39:72-75. Lakes region. American Birds Wood. S.D. and G.D. Schnell. 1984. 34: 163-166. Distribution of Oklahoma Birds. Tessen. D.D. 1981. Western Great University of Oklahoma Press. Lakes region. American Birds Norman. Oklahoma. 35:184-187. Wormington. A. 1985. Ontario Bird Tessen. D.D. 1982. Western Great Records Committee report for Lakes region. American Birds 1984. Ontario Birds 3:2-17. 36: 179-182.

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Wormington, A. 1986. Ontario Bird Wormington, A., J.R Nisbet and R.G. Records Committee report for Finlayson. 1986. Some aspects of 1985. Ontario Birds 4:3-18. bird migration at Caribou Island Wormington, A. and RD. James. (Lake Superior), Ontario. 1984. Ontario Bird Records Ontario Birds 4:85-97. Committee, Checklist of the Birds of Ontario. Ontario Birds 2:13-23. A Birding Site Guide 1

"l to Prince Edward County ~ . by Terry Sprague

Location and Access the Norris Whitney Bridge into the Prince Edward County lies'just off county, or take the Marysville the north shore ofeastern lake exit and follow Highway 49 near Ontario between Brighton, the east end of the county. Northumberland County and Access is also possible from Napanee, Lennox and Addington Highway 33 at Adolphustown via County. Prior to the construction the Glenora Ferry if travelling of the Murray Canal in 1889, from Kingston. which severed the northwest comer of the county to connect the Habitat and Ornithological Bay of Quinte to Presqu'ile Bay, Significance Prince Edward County was a Much of Prince Edward County is peninsula. It has a total area of composed of shallow soils which 100,000 hectares or 1,000 square result in an extensive hectareage of kilometres. The population of untilled pasture fields, ranging Prince Edward County is about from barren flats to those either 22,000. The largest centre is the sparsely or densely populated with Town of Picton, with a population red cedar. These conditions of4,800. In the Town ofWellington provide excellent habitat for and Village of Bloomfield, there nesting populations of Upland are 1,000 and 750 inhabitants, Sandpipers, Grasshopper Sparrows, respectively. Savannah Sparrows, and Field There are fOUf main access Sparrows, as well as Clay-colored points to the county, three of . Sparrows in specific areas. which are from Highway 401. To Elsewhere there is a mixed the west, follow Highway 33 via the variety of habitat. from cultivated Wooler Road exit to Carrying fields, hardwood forests and Place. At Belleville, take Highway extensive marshlands to scrub 62 (formerly Highway 14) across cover consisting of field invasions

Terry Sprague, R.R. #1, Demorestville, Ontario KOK lWO

ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987