Greetings birders - 

Today, Monday the 27th, around 12:30 p.m., Richard Crossley and I found 13 SMITH'S LONGSPURS (8 males, 5 females) on the west side of Washburn Road (Township Highway 61A), which lies immediately south of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County. Washburn Road runs north-south, with Wyandot-Marion Road (Twp Rd 68) to its north and Morral-Kirkpatrick (County Hwy 67E) to its south. The longspurs were found and photographed in the corn-stubble field on the northwest side of Washburn. 

NOW is the time to get out and look for these often cryptic, but stunningly-plumaged rare migrants. Smith's have a short migration window for passing through the western portion of the state, with this year's peak being last and this week. 

We're really re-learning what we know about this species status in Ohio, as they certainly remain very rare, but definitely regular spring migrants. They key thing is: they're very habitat specific. You can patrol thousands of agricultural fields, or you can narrow down your search to seek specific ingredients for prime Smith's Longspur habitat. 

Smith's require unplowed, corn-stubble agricultural fields of large size. (The Washburn field is nearly half a mile long). Cornstubble tends to be around a foot high. Plenty of "matted weedy material" should exist among the cornstalks, with abundant FOXTAIL GRASS (Foxtail Grass definitely appears to be a necessity, as seeds are a main food source). Wet depressions throughout the field are also recognized as favorable. Typically these fields are going to produce a host of birds - pipits, Horned Larks, shorebirds (Pectoral Sandpiper, namely), Lapland Longspurs, and Savannah Sparrows; the "likely field" should be a busy place. 

Foxtail grass web image: 

http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_foxtl.htm

Smith's are generally quiet but will occasionally sing and certainly call. Focus on listening for their recognizable, rapid, dry rattle call:

(First are songs, then the dry rattle call):
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/smiths_longspur/id

During spring migration, adult males will occasionally sing (different from dry rattle call), oftentimes two or three times in close succession, but then with long breaks (20 to 30 minutes). This is not a showy, perch-to-sing species. Very rarely males will sing from an exposed, low cornstubble perch. Females tend to remain silent (no dry rattle call). 

Smith's Longspurs are rodent-like in behavior, creeping low to the ground, walking constantly and purposefully, or running short bouts then pausing and ducking through cornstubble rows or behind foxtail grass patches. They are not flighty and active like Horned Larks and American Pipits. 

When they take flight, note the very, very prominent WHITE EDGES to the tail, and WHITE SPOTS (one on each wing) on the shoulder area of the upperwings. (Remember American Pipit and Vesper Sparrow show similar white on the outertail). While brilliantly-marked, the head pattern of the adult male can be difficult to pick up on, on quickly-moving birds in flight. The combination of white edges to the tail and white shoulder spots is key.

Males will be in various stages of breeding plumage, with some males being really, really stunning in full garb. Most others will be slightly patchier as a whole. Females do not sport the black and white face pattern of the male. They sport more streaking (throat, chest, face, back) and are buffier-orange below. While the bird looks impossibly hard to miss in the field based on the image in your field guide, the species blends in remarkably well with a mixture of cornstubble, mud and foxtail grass. 

Patience is key. Tuning in to listen for those rattle calls (listen to their call repeatedly before you get out into the field) is a necessity. Being familiar with pipits, larks, and Lapland Longspurs is a solid idea. 

Finding the right fields is by far the best way to locate them. 

(Side note of thanks to Bill Whan for annually posting Smith's tips, prompting OH birders to seek out these really sporty, tough-to-get, rare-to-very rare migrants).

Will post photos from today at a later time.

Good luck
cheers
Jen

Jen Brumfield
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Medina, Ohio




                                          
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