Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) - HBW 16, p. 502

French: Plectrophane de Smith German: Goldbauch-Spornammer Spanish: Escribano de Smith

Taxonomy: Emberiza (Plectrophanes) picta Swainson, 1832, Carlton House, on banks of the Saskatchewan River, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds NE & EC Alaska and NC Canada from extreme N British Columbia E across N Yukon and N & EC Mackenzie to S Nunavut, NE Manitoba and extreme N Ontario. Winters in S USA from SC Kansas, Oklahoma and N Texas E to Arkansas (especially NW), W Tennessee, Mississippi and N Alabama (rare).