Population status

Chestnut-collared Longspur
(Calcarius ornatus)

The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the most reliable source of population trend information for this species in Canada. BBS results show a large decrease since about 1970, resulting in a loss of about 95% of the population. BBS data from throughout North America indicate that the continental population has undergone a similar decline. The national population goal for the Chestnut-collared Longspur is outlined in the Recovery Strategy (at or above mean abundance during 1980-1989; ECCC 2017); the species is currently below the lowest acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see Canada graph below).

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

References

• COSEWIC. 2009a. COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Chestnut-collared Longspur Calcarius ornatus, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 36 pp.. COSEWIC. 2009a. COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Chestnut-collared Longspur Calcarius ornatus, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 36 pp.. (Link)
• Davis, S.K. 2004. Area sensitivity in grassland passerines: Effects of patch size, patch shape, and vegetation structure on bird abundance and occurrence in southern Saskatchewan. Auk 121: 1130–1145.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 2017. Recovery Strategy for the Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. vi + 31 pp. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 2017. Recovery Strategy for the Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. vi + 31 pp. (Link)
• Hill, D.P. and L.K. Gould. 1997. Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Hill, D.P. and L.K. Gould. 1997. Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. (Link)
• Lloyd, J.D. and T.E. Martin. 2005. Reproductive success of Chestnut-collared Longspurs in native and exotic grassland. Condor 107:363-374.
• Thompson, S.J., D.H. Johnson, N.D. Niemuth, and C.A. Ribic. 2015. Avoidance of unconventional oil wells and roads exacerbates habitat loss for grassland birds in the North American great plains. Biological Conservation 192:82-90. Thompson, S.J., D.H. Johnson, N.D. Niemuth, and C.A. Ribic. 2015. Avoidance of unconventional oil wells and roads exacerbates habitat loss for grassland birds in the North American great plains. Biological Conservation 192:82-90. (Link)