- Anthus leucophrys
Identification
Length 17 cm, mass 23-30 g. Distinguishing features of this Pipit are a fairly dark brown, unstreaked back, buff (rather than white) outer tail feathers, and a yellowish base to the lower bill. The call is a loud, clear 'chrrrup-chereeoo'. The tail is seldom raised above the horizontal when pumped or wagged. It is very similar to the Buffy Pipit, but the Plainbacked Pipit has darker upperparts and more distinct breast markings. The call and tail-wag are also useful in identification.
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa. Many populations are resident and sedentary, but some move from high altitudes to lower altitudes in winter.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Anthus leucophrys has 9 subspecies, based mainly on variation in plumage colour and small differences in wing length:
- Anthus leucophrys leucophrys (South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini and south-eastern Botswana)
- Anthus leucophrys tephridorsus (northern Namibia, north-western Botswana, north-western Zimbabwe, southern Angola, south-western Zambia)
- Anthus leucophrys ansorgei (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau)
- Anthus leucophrys zenkeri (Mali and Ghana to Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Kenya)
- Anthus leucophrys gouldii (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire)
- Anthus leucophrys omoensis (Sudan, Ethiopia)
- Anthus leucophrys saphiroi (Ethiopia, Somalia)
- Anthus leucophrys bohndorffi (Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Tanzania, Malawi)
- Anthus leucophrys goodsoni (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania).
Habitat
It is found either singly, in pairs or in loose flocks in areas with short grass or shrubs interspersed with bare ground, particularly areas which have been overgrazed or burnt. This includes short grasslands, short shrublands, the margins of wetlands and wooded areas, and fallow fields.
Behaviour
It occasionally perches on rocks and low mounds. When walking it adopts an upright stance and has a somewhat deliberate tail pumping action when standing still. Its diet consists mainly of insects and their larvae but it will also eat other invertebrates and seeds.
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
- Lepage D. 2007. Avibase. Search for Anthus leucophrys downloaded 18 September 2007.
- Sinclair I, Hockey P & Tarboton W. 1997. SASOL Birds of Southern Africa. 2nd Edition. Struik Publishers. ISBN 1868721035
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) Plain-backed Pipit. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 September 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Plain-backed_Pipit
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
