1. By David Rach with Eric C. Atkinson
Morphological characteristics follow the mtDNA sequence of evolutionary descent within the family Calcariidae.
By David Rach with Eric C. Atkinson

2. So what is a Calcariidae???

3. Calcariidae
Family of sexually dimorphic, sparrow-like passerines that inhabit shrub steppe habitats of North America

4. Calcariidae
Family of sexually dimorphic, sparrow-like passerines that inhabit shrub steppe habitats of North America
Arose mya during a Miocene period of accelerated drying and cooling.
6 Species, 4 of which are found in Wyoming

5. In Wyoming during the Summer
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)
CCLO
McCown’s Longspur (Rynchophanes mccownii)
MCLO

6. In Wyoming during the Winter
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis)
SNBU
Lapland Longspur
(Calcarius lapponicus)
LALO

7. Not found in Wyoming Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) SMLO
McKay’s Bunting
Plectrophenax hyperboreus
MKBU

8. McCown’s Longspur
Female
Male

9. Previously Believed Calcariidae Longspurs Buntings CCLO SMLO MCLO LALO
SNBU
MKBU

10. Currently Believed Calcariidae Calcarius Rynchophanes Plectrophenax
CCLO
SMLO
LALO
MCLO
SNBU
MKBU

11. Purpose of Study: Avian Taxonomy Does the Morphology follow the DNA?
Trait that distinguishes between the two sub-clades?

12. Identifying and Cataloging

13. Museum Specimens

14. Methods

15. Measurements Wing Chord (natural) Tail Length Tarsus (Leg) Length
Hallux (Toe Nail) Length

16. Measurements
Exposed Culmen
Bill Length
Bill Depth
Bill Width

17. Statistics: Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC)

18. Results
The PCA took the raw data variability and represented it as a reduced set of components.
First Factor encapsulated variability of approximately 3.6 original variables,
The second factor represented nearly 1.5 variables.

21. F1 Factor Category LS means Groups SNBU 1.738 A MKBU 1.219 LALO -0.192
MKBU
1.219
LALO
-0.192 B
MCLO
-0.404
SMLO
-1.515 C
CCLO
-3.557 D

22. F2 Factor Category LS means Groups LALO 1.000 A SMLO 0.275 B SNBU
SMLO
0.275 B
SNBU
0.041 C
MKBU
-0.259 D
CCLO
-0.739
MCLO
-3.156 E

23. CCLO
SMLO
LALO
MCLO
MKBU
SNBU

24. Conclusion
The F1 Factor correlates with overall body size, with Arctic birds being larger than prairie birds.
F2 Factor correlates with Hallux Length inversely tied Bill measurements, and when plotted mimics the mtDNA sequence.

25. Snow Bunting and McKay’s Bunting
Additionally found that there is no significant morphological difference between Snow Bunting and McKay Bunting.

26. Acknowledgements I would like to thank:
E. Atkinson, J. Campbell, R. Hitchcock, R. Dechert, among with many others for their help and support over the course of the project.
Dr. Kevin Winker, University of Alaska – Fairbanks and Dr. Jay Rotella, Montana State University – Bozeman for lending us the specimens that were used in the course of the project.
Brian E. Small, Gerrit Vyn, Kevin Karlson, Dr. Brendel and Daniel Baney for the use of the images.
And the many friends and coworkers who have helped me work out problems over the last year.