Pipit ID South Africa (1 Viewer)

[TWM]

A friend of a friend photographed this pipit in South Africa, any ideas.
I thought it looked a bit like Olive-backed.

 

[MacNara]

Photos really help!

 

[TWM]

Sadly I can't upload them!!! I am working on it.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Just to add, it will help a bit if you can specify where in South Africa the photos were taken.

 

[TWM]

Andrew could you PM me your e-mail and I will forward it to you. Tim

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Here are the pictures.

 

[TWM]

Thanks.

 

[Hanko von Schlichting]

I'm leaning toward a Tree Pipit, which, if I'm not mistaken, is a rather rare sighting in South Africa?

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'd go with Tree.


Andy

 

[Simon Wates]

I don't know if Olive-backed has been recorded in South Africa but colour tones aside (the bird doesn't seem rich enough) it looks quite good for one - that dark lateral crown stripe and the bright rather rasberry pink legs do look pretty good don't they?

 

[gerdwichers8]

Olive-backed!

 

[gerdwichers8]

I don't know if Olive-backed has been recorded in South Africa but colour tones aside (the bird doesn't seem rich enough) it looks quite good for one - that dark lateral crown stripe and the bright rather rasberry pink legs do look pretty good don't they?

That's more like it indeed. Fat flankstreaking; a striking white supercilium behind the eye, strongly bordered by a fat lateral crownstripe; prominent white earcovertspot.
If it is only for Treepipit, I definitely go with Olive-backed.

edit: Since the photograph is taken in South Africa, this bird has to be an adult or first summer bird; which explains the lack of apparent olive-green tones. It will likely be a rather worn bird by now. That usually also explains the more prominent dark streaks to the mantle.

 

[lewis20126]

It does look like an OBP to me as well.

FWIW, I'm also interested in the tree - it seems to be one of the very long-leaved Pinus species - I assume these are in SAfrica as introductions?

cheers, alan

 

[foresttwitcher]

FWIW, I'm also interested in the tree - it seems to be one of the very long-leaved Pinus species - I assume these are in SAfrica as introductions?

cheers, alan

Pinus radiata is often used for forestry in southern Africa - I don't know if that is what this is from the photos; if Nutcracker sees this he would know.

 

[Steve Lister]

Is this the same bird as SA birders are twitching as a Tree Pipit at the moment?

Steve

 

[Nutcracker]

FWIW, I'm also interested in the tree - it seems to be one of the very long-leaved Pinus species - I assume these are in SAfrica as introductions?

Pinus radiata is often used for forestry in southern Africa - I don't know if that is what this is from the photos; if Nutcracker sees this he would know.

Could well be Pinus radiata (yes, an introduced species in SA, as are all pines), but not enough detail of foliage visible (nor cones) to be certain. Several other pines are also cultivated and/or naturalised in SA.

 

[TWM]

It is near Cape Town and apparently has been accepted as a Tree Pipit by the locals.
http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=56439

 

[Simon Wates]

It is near Cape Town and apparently has been accepted as a Tree Pipit by the locals.

Strange date for any northern pipit down there I would think! Did they hear it?

 

[Trevor Hardaker]

Here are a few more images of the bird in question to assist with the debate...

Any further thoughts?

 

[Andy Hurley]

Maybe I'm seeing this completely wrong, but what about juvenile Striped Pipit, Anthus lineiventris. The patern is close and SASOL states "Juvenile is paler above and less heavily streaked below"