longspur
noun
long·spur
ˈlȯŋ-ˌspər 
: any of several long-clawed finches (especially genus Calcarius) of the arctic regions and the Great Plains of North America
Examples of longspur in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Along the way, visitors may spot signs of the sanctuary’s most visible resident, the beaver, from impressive dams to cleverly constructed dens and lodges, as well as birds such as the snow goose, lapland longspur, and chimney swift.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Indications are that the wintering Smith’s longspur in Hadley may have departed.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Feb. 2023
Last year, ornithologists called for renaming birds like the McCown’s longspur, a Great Plains species named for a Confederate general who was also involved with forcible relocations of Native Americans.
—Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021
In 2019, the AOS rejected an earlier proposal to rename the McCown’s longspur, in large part because there was no policy in place for changing a name based on offensiveness.
—Nathalie Alonso, Outside Online, 12 Feb. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Indications are that the wintering Smith’s longspur in Hadley may have departed.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Feb. 2023
Last year, ornithologists called for renaming birds like the McCown’s longspur, a Great Plains species named for a Confederate general who was also involved with forcible relocations of Native Americans.
—Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021
In 2019, the AOS rejected an earlier proposal to rename the McCown’s longspur, in large part because there was no policy in place for changing a name based on offensiveness.
—Nathalie Alonso, Outside Online, 12 Feb. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Longspur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/longspur. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share