|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surfbirds.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For birders all over the world
|
|
|
|
Color |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Pipits Anthus rubsecens Photo Page 2
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) click here
Photo Page 2 (American Pipits)
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
|
|
|
|
|
While this photograph of an American Pipit appears somewhat dark (perhaps due to under-exposure?), a number of features rule out Siberian Pipit. Note the sparse underside streaking and the overall "spotted" appearance in the upper chest region (compared with a striped appearance in Siberian Pipit). The dark, flaring malar stripe characteristic of Siberian Pipit is also lacking in this bird. In addition, the undersides of this bird are noticeably buffy, reducing the sharpness of the underside streaking. Note also that both median and greater covert feather tips are uniformly buffy (in Siberian Pipit, the median covert feathers may be slightly whiter), producing less contrast than that |
 |
|
|
|
Figure 8. American Pipit (pacificus?)
Photographed by Scott Robinson during Nov 1992 in Ventura, California.
Email: scottr@inhs.uiuc.edu
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/ifwis/birds
|
|
|
|
|
seen in Siberian. The legs are also obviously black, and a pale eye-ring is barely discernible in this photo. Based on the location at which this photograph was taken, this bird is most likely a pacificus. However the lateral coalescence of streaks just below the throat into a continuous band or necklace might suggest rubescens insofar as our proposed field marks for subspecific identification of the American Pipits are valid.
|
|
|
|
|
This American Pipit is clearly distinguishable from Siberian by the paler streaking, spotted appearance, lack of a dark malar stripe, and lack of an eye-ring. Note also that the streaking does not extend considerably down to the flanks. This pipit is most likely a pacificus based on range as well as a number of other features. Most diagnostic is the spotted appearance of the underside streaking and the shape of the individual streaks (round/oval in pacificus, elongate in rubescens). In addition, in rubescens the streaks often coalesce laterally just beneath the throat, whereas in this individual, the streaking in this region remains sparse. Note also that the dark upperparts contrast slightly with the pale underparts (not as strong as in Siberian). This is |
 |
|
|
|
|
Figure 9. American Pipit (pacificus)
Photographed by Jim Gain during January 2000 at the Modesto sewage ponds, Stanislaus County, California.
Email: Gain.J@monet.k12.ca.us
|
|
|
|
|
because of pacificus’s overall slightly darker or grayer coloration (relative to the other American pipits). In rubescens and alticola, both the upperparts and underparts are buffy, producing less contrast. One feature to note is the slightly pale legs of this bird. While not as pink as Siberian, variation in leg color warrants careful examination of other field marks when making an identification.
|
|
|
|
|
This photograph of an American Pipit is distinguished from Siberian Pipit by the buffy underparts, more sparse streaking on the undersides, buffy wingbars, non-flaring malar stripe, lack of a prominent eye-ring, and gray legs. Note that while the malar stripe on this bird appears very dark and therefore contrasts with both upperparts and underparts, the individual streaks making up the posterior portion of the malar stripe can be seen (in Siberian, the malar stripe is typically solid). Note also that the underside streaks do not coalescece longitudinally to from long stripes, as often seen in Siberian. Another characteristic feature is the lack of contrast between the upperparts and underparts, which not only rules out Siberian but also suggests that this bird is either rubescens or alticola. Based on range, this bird is likely to be rubescens. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Figure 10. American Pipit (rubescens)
Photographed by Jim Stasz during the winter at North Beach, Maryland (exact date unknown).
Email: Jlstasz@aol.com
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The striking feature of this bird in Figure 11 is its overall pale coloration. In fact, the streaks appear to be concolor with the upperparts, which is generally not the case for any of the Buff-bellied Pipits in basic plumage. The fact that this photograph was taken in February suggests that this bird is in the process of molting from the heavily streaked basic plumage to the minimally streaked alternate plumage, although it retains most of its basic plumage characteristics (in alternate plumage, the American Pipits are either unstreaked below or exhibit sparsely distributed fine streaks or spots). Superficially, this bird could be misidentified as a Siberian Pipit. Note the presence of a white eye-ring, bulging malar stripe, dense underside streaking, white belly, pale legs, and possibly whiter median coverts. However, Siberian Pipit can be ruled out |
 |
|
|
|
Figure 11. American Pipit
(subspecies uncertain) Photographed by Don Desjardin in February in Ventura, California.
Email: birdpix@pacbell.net
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/DesJardin/index.htm
|
|
|
|
because the streaking appears brown/gray rather than black or dark brown. Even in alternate plumage, the streaks on Siberian Pipit are contrastingly dark, whereas in this bird the streaks are nearly concolor with the upperparts. By the same token, even though this bird has a large malar stripe, it is not dark enough to be Siberian. The white undersides are within the variation seen in American Pipits, particularly in the pacificus subspecies. The overall pale coloration is likely to be an intermediary between basic and alternate plumages, which we will discuss in a future treatise on alternate-plumaged Buff-bellied Pipits.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 12. American Pipit
Photographed by Don Desjardin. March 10th, 1996, Ventura County, Southern California
Email: birdpix@pacbell.net
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/DesJardin/index.htm |
|
|
|