longspur

American  

[lawng-spur, long-] / ˈlɔŋˌspɜr, ˈlɒŋ- /

noun

1. any of several fringillid birds of the genus Calcarius of tundra or prairie regions of North America, characterized by a long spurlike hind claw on each foot.

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longspur British  

/ ˈlɒŋˌspɜː /

noun

1. any of various Arctic and North American buntings of the genera Calcarius and Rhyncophanes, all of which have a long claw on the hind toe

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Etymology

Origin of longspur

First recorded in 1825–35; long ¹ + spur ¹

Example Sentences

The results indicated that protected areas remain important for the conservation of northern bird species such as the Lapland longspur, which breeds in Finland as well.

From Science Daily • Oct. 4, 2023

The chestnut-collared longspur, which lives in the northern shortgrass prairie and sings as it flies.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2023

Last summer, the McCown’s longspur, named after Confederate general John P. McCown, became the thick-billed longspur, a label based solely on its characteristics.

From Washington Post • Oct. 27, 2021

Among those difficult to find were the horned lark, snow bunting and Lapland longspur.

From Washington Times • Jan. 2, 2021

Many of our more vigorous species, as the butcherbird, the crossbills, the pine grosbeak, the redpoll, the Bohemian chatterer, the shore lark, the longspur, the snow bunting, etc., are common to both continents.

From Locusts and Wild Honey by Burroughs, John