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Siberian Pipits Anthus rubsecens japonicus Photo Page 1
All photographs on surfbirds.com are copyrighted by the contributing photographers and may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without written permission from the photographer.
Contents:
Page 1 of Article click here
Page 2 of Article click here
Photo Page 1 (Siberian Pipits)
Photo Page 2 (American Pipits) click here
Plate of Rock Pipits by Brian J. Small click here
Plate of Water and Buff-bellied Pipits by Brian J. Small click here
Plate by Andy Birch click here
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| This is a classic example of a Siberian Pipit. Note the dark upperparts and extremely dark streaks (darker than upperparts), which extend noticeably along the flanks. The dark streaking superimposed on whitish undersides results in a much stronger contrast than in American Pipit. Note also that the malar stripe is dark, solid, and flares to the side of the neck, reminiscent of Richard’s Pipit (A. richardi), the tips of the median covert feathers appear white, contrasting with the dark wings and upperparts, and the noticeably white eye-ring, which contrasts with the dark face. The pinkish legs are also consistent with Siberian Pipit (although some American Pipits can have pale legs). |
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Figure 1. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Toru Akiba on 15 Jan 1993 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Email: tota.akiba@nifty.ne.jp
http://homepage/.nifty.com/bird-edu/
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| This is another classic example of a Siberian Pipit. In this photo, the combination of thick, dark streaking and white undersides gives an especially strong contrast. Note that in this bird the streaks coalesce longitudinally, giving a somewhat striped appearance. The white tips to the median covert feathers contrast not only with the dark uppersides, but also with the slightly buffier greater median coverts, a common feature in Siberian Pipits. Other indicative features include the dark flaring malar stripe (slightly masked by a shadow), complete white eye-ring, and pale legs. |
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Figure 2. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Tetsu Sato on 15 Dec 1996 in Japan.
Email: alcedo@air.linkclub.or.jp
http://www.linkclub.or.jp/~alcedo/bird/indexe.html
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| This Siberian Pipit looks slightly paler and less boldly streaked than those shown in Figures 1 and 2, and therefore may be misidentified as American Pipit. Note, however the dark, flaring malar stripe, dense streaking on the chest, pale legs, and slightly whiter median covert feather tips. Note that the streaking on the chest contrasts with the white underparts (in this bird, the contrast is most noticeable in the chest and breast regions). The streaks in the chest region appear to be somewhat short, reminiscent of American pacificus, however their extremely dark coloration and slightly thicker appearance rule out pacificus. This bird appears not to have an obvious eye-ring, illustrating the degree of variability in individual field marks, and the need for basing identifications on a combination of field marks. |
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Figure 3. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Takashi Koike on 31 Jan 1998 along the Tamu River, Tokyo, Japan.
Email: t-koike@fsinet.or.jp
http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~osprey
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| This is another typical Siberian Pipit, showing the flaring malar stripe, heavily streaked undersides, white underparts, prominent eye-ring, white median coverts, and pale legs. |
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Figure 4. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Takashi Koike during the winter in Japan (exact date unknown).
Email: t-koike@fsinet.or.jp
http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~osprey
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| This photograph of a Siberian Pipit appears to have an artificial overall yellow cast to it. Nevertheless, a number of salient features can be discerned: heavily streaked underparts, flaring malar stripe, bright median coverts, pale legs, and complete eye-ring. |
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Figure 5. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Kim Hyun-Tae on 19 Nov 1999 in South Korea.
Email: pintail@soback.kornet.net
http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~pintail/index.html
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| This nearly head-on shot of a Siberian Pipit shows the striking contrast between the dark underside streaking and the white undersides. Note the extremely dark (completely solid) malar stripe, which flares posteriorly and contrasts with both the upperparts and undersides. The median covert feather tips appear to be slightly whiter than the greater covert feather tips. Note also the prominent eye-ring, which stands out against the dark face, even from this poor angle. Another feature to note is the overall shape and effect of the underside streaking. Unlike pacificus, whose streaks give a spotted appearance, those of Siberian pipit give a more striped appearance. |
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Figure 6. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Kim Hyun-Tae during the winter in South Korea (exact date unknown)
Email: pintail@soback.kornet.net
http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~pintail/index.html
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| Another near frontal shot of a Siberian Pipit. Heavy underside streaking, thick and flaring malar stripe, contrasting median covert feather tips (which are slightly whiter than greater covert feather tips), pink legs, and pale eye-ring are diagnostic. |
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Figure 7. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Kim Hyun-Tae during the winter in South Korea (exact date unknown).
Email: pintail@soback.kornet.net
http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~pintail/index.html
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| Figure 7a. Siberian Pipit
Photographed by Kim Hyun-Tae November 24, 1999 Sosan landfill area, South Korea
Email: pintail@soback.kornet.net
http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~pintail/index.html
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| Click on button to go to Photo Page 2 of American Pipits |
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