Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

McCown's Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) - HBW 16, p. 504

French: Plectrophane de McCown German: Schwarzbrust-Spornammer Spanish: Escribano de McCown

Taxonomy: Plectrophanes mccownii Lawrence, 1851, high prairies of western Texas, USA.
Sometimes placed in genus Calcarius, and has hybridized with Calcarius ornatus, but apparently is closer in affinities to Plectrophanax. Has been suggested that those two genera be placed with present genus in a separate family, Calcariidae. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds from S Canada (SE Alberta and SC Saskatchewan) S in USA to C Montana, extreme SE Idaho, E Wyoming, NE Colorado and NW Nebraska. Winters in SE California (rare), C & SE Arizona, C New Mexico, WC Kansas and C Oklahoma and W & SC Texas, and N Mexico (S to N Durango, occasionally Zacatecas).