Lapland Longspur—Common migrant and uncommon winter visitor to open country throughout. Can be seen in large flocks around marshy areas during migration. Some flocks may contain thousands of birds. In winter look for it along roadsides with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings.
Smith’s Longspur—Rare migrant in open country throughout much of the eastern two-thirds (more common in the eastern one-fourth). Usually found in flocks of Lapland Longspurs, but occasionally occurs in large, pure flocks in the fall, particularly around marshes in the southeast sector. Try the North Fargo Sewage Lagoons and the waterfowl production areas near Alice ([Cass] County).
Chestnut-collared Longspur—Common summer resident of mixed-grass prairies, short-grass prairies, pastures, stubble fields, fallow fields, and retired croplands throughout (rare in Steele, Traill, [Cass], [Ransom], and [Richland] Counties). Hard to miss at such places as Bowman-Haley, Lake Ilo, Stewart Lake, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer (grasslands tour), Audubon, Long Lake, Arrowwood, and Salde Refuges; along the roads going south from Marmarth and Rhame; at Longspur Pasture; and in prairie grasslands.
Snow Bunting—Common winter visitor to open country throughout. Less common in the southwest corner. Easy to find just by driving any roads (with the possible exception of interstates) leading through prairies or agricultural areas. Often seen right along the road feeding with Horned Larks.
BIRDS OF NORTH DAKOTA
The following charts include all species of wild birds occurring in North Dakota.
The bar-graphs are designed to give a conservative idea of your chances of finding a particular species rather than of its abundance. Thus a large bird such as the Red-tailed Hawk may be shown as “hard to miss” while a shy, hard-to-identify, or small bird such as the Sharp-tailed Sparrow may occur in greater numbers, but be shown as “may see.”
| HARD TO MISS | ###### |
| SHOULD SEE | xxxxxx |
| MAY SEE | ====== |
| LUCKY TO FIND | ------ |
| HOW LUCKY CAN YOU GET | ...... |
Many local birders and others who bird the area frequently were consulted in determining the status of each bird. Since these people are familiar with the birds, their songs, habits, and habitats, they are good at finding the more elusive species. On your first trip to the area, you may think that some birds are harder to find than is indicated here.