Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) - HBW 16, p. 504

French: Plectrophane à ventre noir German: Gelbkehl-Spornammer Spanish: Escribano Collarejo
Other common names: Chestnut-colored Longspur

Taxonomy: Plectrophanes ornata J. K. Townsend, 1837, prairies of Platte River = near forks of Platte River, western Nebraska, USA.
Molecular studies indicate that genus is basal to both the New World and the Old World emberizids, and closely related to Plectrophenax; has been suggested that these two genera and Rhynchophanes be placed in a separate family, Calcariidae. Present species has hybridized with Rhynchophanes mccownii. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in S Canada (from S Alberta, S Saskatchewan and SC Manitoba) S in Great Plains to NE Colorado, W Nebraska, N (locally also E & SC) South Dakota and W Minnesota; winters from S USA (S California and Arizona E to N Colorado, C Kansas, C Oklahoma and N Louisiana) to NC Mexico (Sonora and W Coahuila S to Zacatecas and Aguascalientes).