Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
Calcariidae Members: Thick-billed Longspur 12260
General Comments
Accidental. This is a species of the short-grass prairies, nesting just east of Rocky Mountains in the northwestern portions of the Great Plains and wintering in the southern Plains and barely into Mexico. It was formerly named as the McCown's Longspur but, owing to "political correctness", was controversially renamed to Thick-billed Longspur, in 2020. Fortunately for Captain John McCown, an American army officer who collected the first specimen in 1851, but who later fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, his memory will forever be remembered in the scientific epithet, which by scientific rule cannot be changed. There are very few records for the eastern United States, but one was discovered on the south side of Oregon Inlet at Pea Island NWR (Dare) on 22 Oct 2021*. It lingered until 29 Oct and was seen and photographed by dozens of birders (Chat 86:41). It has been accepted by the NC BRC (Chat 87:24). Photos are posted on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery and on many eBird reports.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SA
Global Rank
G4
Coastal Plain
One record (see above).
Piedmont
No records.
Mountain
No records.
Finding Tips