McCown's Longspur
(Rhynchophanes mccownii)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Alan MacKeigan
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The McCown's Longspur breeds in dry grasslands in the southern prairie provinces. Breeding Bird Survey data indicate a steep, long-term decrease in the Canadian population, with about 98% of the population lost since about 1970. Significant declines have also occurred in the continental population but are less steep. In 2006, the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the species as Special Concern based on the steep decline, which is mainly due to habitat loss and degradation (COSEWIC 2006a) in the southern prairies. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
COSEWIC (Canada)Special Concern2006 
SARA (Canada)Special Concern2007 
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Partners in Flight (North America)Stewardship List, Watch List Species2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2010 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaLarge DecreaseMedium
 

Population estimate

Canada50,000 to 500,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Short-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaModerate

Conservation and management

The primary cause of declining population is thought to be the loss and degradation of habitat resulting from conversion of native grasslands to agriculture (With 1994, Environment Canada 2014). McCown's Longspurs prefer very dry, short grassland and can usually tolerate heavy grazing pressure (With 1994). They also use croplands but the species uses conventional till and spring-planted crops more than minimum-till and fall-sown crops. Birds that breed in minimum-till crops may have higher productivity (Martin and Forsyth 2003). However, there is growing recognition that habitat loss on the wintering grounds, especially in Northern Mexico, may have contributed to declines in recent years (Pool et al. 2013). A proposed management plan for McCown's Longspur is now available (Environment Canada 2014). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view available recovery documents, see the SARA Registry.

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Prairie PotholesPrairie Potholes, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern Region
 

References