American Pipit

Overview

The American pipit, formerly known as the buff-bellied pipit, is a small songbird native to North America. It belongs to the family of pipits and is characterised by its undistinguished appearance and habit of running on the ground.

Identification

• Lightly streaked grey-brown upperparts.
• Diffusely streaked buff breast and flanks with a whitish belly.
• Dark bill and legs.
• Length of approximately 16 cm with a wingspan of 24 cm.
• Produces a squeaky 'sip' call.

Habitat

The breeding habitat consists of tundra, while outside the breeding season it occupies open, lightly vegetated areas. Its range spans from northern Canada and Greenland to the southern United States and Central America, including the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

Diet

Like its relatives, the American pipit is insectivorous. It relies heavily on arthropods, which become more abundant during the breeding season as snow melts.

Did you know?

Males engage in one-on-one fights to win over females and secure snow-free nesting sites during the breeding season. The species has also expanded its wintering range northwards in the 20th century, with many birds now spending the winter in regions like northern Ohio where they were previously rare.