American pipit (Anthus rubescens)
CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.
IDENTIFICATION:
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Length: 5.5 inches
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Slender bill
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White eye ring and supercilium
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White throat with dark malar streak
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Brownish-olive upperparts with fine black streaks on back
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Wings blackish with broad buffy edges
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Buffy underparts with dark streaking across breast and onto flanks
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Black tail with white outer tail feathers
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Dark legs
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In spring and summer, less heavily streaked below and upperparts grayer
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Sexes similar
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Wags its tail
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Often found in flocks on the ground in sparsely vegetated areas (plow- ed fields, shores, tundra
Similar species:
The American pipit is similar to the Sprague's pipit but the Sprague's
pipit has much less streaking on the underparts, more streaking on the
back, a paler face, and pink legs. The rare red-throated pipit (breeds in
Alaska and rare migrant in California) has a different call and pink legs.
Sparrows and longspurs can be found in similar habitats but have thick,
conical bills.
LIFE HISTORY
Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: N/A
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 4-6
Length of Incubation: 13-15 days
Days to Fledge: 13-15
Number of Broods: 1
Diet: Primarily insects; lesser quantities of seeds
SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE
Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.
Relative abundance
C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
numbers.
O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
sometimes low numbers.
R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.
Seasonal Occurrence
Sp - Spring: March, April, May
Su - Summer: June, July, August
Fall: September, October, November U
Winter: December, January, February U
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