About Calcarius pictus (Swainson, 1832)
These birds have short, cone-shaped bills, streaked backs, and dark tails with white outer tail feathers. When in breeding plumage, which is mostly formed from worn basic plumage, males have a pumpkin-orange throat, nape, and underparts that contrast with a detailed black-and-white face pattern. During spring and early summer, the white lesser coverts on males are very noticeable. Females and immature birds have lightly streaked buff-colored underparts, dark crowns, brown wings with less obvious white lesser coverts, and a light-colored face. Tail appearance is the same across all ages. This species breeds in open grassy areas near the tree line in northern Canada and Alaska. In winter, individuals gather in open areas including airports across the south-central United States. Their migration follows an elliptical route: northbound birds stop to stage in Illinois during spring, while southbound birds travel over the Great Plains in fall.
