Longspur (family)

The Calcariidae -commonly known as longspurs or snow buntings- are a small family of passerine birds. There are 3 genera and 6 species worldwide.

Taxonomy
DNA studies confirmed the species of this family form a clade separated from the Emberizidae. Alström et al. (2008) proposed to place them in the tribe Calcariini, but the International Ornithological Congress has placed them in a separate family in 2010.

Genera and Species

 * Calcarius
 * Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)
 * Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus)
 * Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)


 * Plectrophenax
 * Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
 * McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus)


 * Rhynchophanes
 * McCown's Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)