When do lapland longspurs arrive in Alaska?
The Lapland Longspur is a summer breeder in Alaska — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Lapland Longspur timing in Alaska
- Arrives
- Around June
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- July
- Present roughly
- June–August
In Alaska, lapland longspurs are present through the warm months, arriving around June and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Alaska sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when lapland longspurs are expected in Alaska. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before June is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early June — the first lapland longspurs into Alaska are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around July, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What lapland longspurs eat while they're here
- Flies, beetles and spiders on the tundra
Winters in enormous flocks on bare plains and stubble; often mixes with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.
Full Lapland Longspur diet guide → · Best feeder for lapland longspurs →
Native plants that hold lapland longspurs in Alaska
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Alaska-native plants are known to attract lapland longspurs:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do lapland longspurs arrive in Alaska?
lapland longspurs typically arrive in Alaska around June, with nesting underway by July. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do lapland longspurs leave Alaska?
Most lapland longspurs have left Alaska by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do lapland longspurs stay in Alaska all year?
No — in Alaska the Lapland Longspur is a summer breeder, present roughly June–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before lapland longspurs arrive in Alaska?
Have feeders up and clean by early June — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: flies, beetles and spiders on the tundra.
Sources
- Lapland Longspur — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Lapland Longspur life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Lapland Longspur — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.