From Opus

Photo by nkgray at Wakkerstroom district, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Anthus chloris

Hemimacronyx chloris

[edit] Identification

Length 16-18 cm, 25 g. Breeding adult: Similar to the common African Pipit, but with a pale face and lemon-yellow underparts. Upperparts buffy brown, spotted and streaked with dark brown. The eyebrows and outer tail are white, and the yellow breast is lightly streaked black. Non-breeding adult: Pale buffy brown below, with central belly yellowish.

[edit] Distribution

Locally common altitudinal migrant of the montane (>1800 m) grassland of the Stormberg and Drakensberg escarpments of southeastern South Africa and Lesotho, migrating to lower altitudes in winter.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.
Placed in genus Hemimacronyx by some authorities.

[edit] Habitat

Montane grassland when breeding and lowland grassland and bushveld when not breeding.

[edit] Behaviour

Solitary or in pairs when breeding; otherwise in small flocks. Forages on the ground for insects. Flushes reluctantly, preferring to remain behind cover on the ground when disturbed. Males sing in display flights or from a perch.

Breeding: November to January. Nests are well-hidden under grass tufts; they are cups of dry grass lined with rootlets. Three eggs are laid.

[edit] References

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533