Lapland Longspur
Male Lapland Bunting ( Calcarius lapponicus )
The Lapland Bunting ( Calcarius lapponicus ) is a species of bird, the long in the bunting family ( Emberizidae ) was filed, but today stands in the comprehensive relatively few species Calcaridae family. It breeds, like the snow bunting, mostly in the northern tundra areas. Their diet consists mostly of summer mosquitoes, which occur in the tundra to the masses. In winter, they eat, like other buntings, mainly seeds.
Description
The Lapland Longspur is similar to the Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus ). The male in breeding plumage has a black head ( without beard stripe ) with a white eye-streak and a rust- brown neck. A rust- brown neck and a yellow beak is also characteristic of the females. The Lapland Bunting has a typical buntings length of 15 cm and a weight of 25 g. The wingspan is 25 to 28 centimeters.
Habitat
The Lapland Bunting occurs as a winter visitor in Europe in northern France and Germany as well as in Denmark. In the east there is a larger distribution area above the Black Sea. Their breeding areas are located in Norway, Sweden and northern Russia. She lives here in the mountain and in the tundra above the tree line, mainly in hilly, rock -free terrain with dwarf shrubs. Several subspecies also occur in the subarctic, partly Arctic regions of Canada.
Singing
In flight, she sings a short, partially warbling verse, reminiscent of a Dunnock. During the breeding season she calls, partly in Singflug, " tjüb ", " Tije " or " press " as they sail down with trembling wings.
Brood care
As with the snow bunting, the males are the first in their breeding places to demarcate their territories. Once the majority of the snow has melted, they begin nesting. The nest, which is built of fine grass, moss, and from roots is padded inside with grass and hair. The female lays 5-6 greenish to brownish, about 21 mm large eggs. Per year, once hatched, and it takes about 12-14 days until the chicks hatch.