Nunavut · Summer breeder

Lapland Longspurs in Nunavut

When lapland longspurs are present in Nunavut, when they nest, which native Nunavut plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a yard.

Longspurs and snow buntings (Calcariidae)Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
Status in Nunavut
Summer breeder
Nesting window
July
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a

When to expect lapland longspurs in Nunavut

Lapland Longspurs are summer residents in Nunavut, arriving shortly before nesting begins in July and leaving after the young are independent.

Arctic tundra across the mainland and Arctic Archipelago.

Nesting in Nunavut

Across Nunavut, lapland longspurs typically nest from July. Plan around that window: June for setup, July for clean-out.

A few weeks of summer thaw when tundra birds nest.

  • Lapland Longspurs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, willow (bebb), dwarf birch for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Nunavut plants that attract lapland longspurs

Of the regional native plants we track for Nunavut, these 4 provide food or cover lapland longspurs use:

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch
Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding lapland longspurs through the Nunavut year

  • Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (on bare open ground).
  • In Nunavut's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for lapland longspurs · Best feeder for lapland longspurs

Frequently asked

Are lapland longspurs in Nunavut year-round?

No. Lapland Longspurs are summer breeders in Nunavut and leave for the winter.

When do lapland longspurs nest in Nunavut?

Nesting in Nunavut typically runs July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 10–14 days.

What native plants attract lapland longspurs in Nunavut?

Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Nunavut that provide food or cover for lapland longspurs.

Lapland Longspurs in other regions

Other backyard birds in Nunavut

Sources

  1. Lapland Longspur — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Lapland Longspur life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Lapland Longspur — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nunavut
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.