Bird Guide

Buffy Pipit vs Striped Pipit

Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis)

Buffy Pipit

Anthus vaalensis

Small27 gGrassland

Its length is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in), and its weight is 23–36.6 g (0.81–1.29 oz). It is often confused with the plain-backed pipit because both species have plain upperparts. The upperparts of the buffy pipit are paler and buffier than the plain-backed pipit. The buffy pipit has a pale supercilium, and its lower mandible has a pinkish base. It has faint markings on the breast, and the belly and flanks are buffy. The juvenile has mottles.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Paul Hoekman · CC BY 4.0
Striped Pipit (Anthus lineiventris)

Striped Pipit

Anthus lineiventris

Small35 gGrassland

It is a large pipit, ranging from 17 to 18 centimeters in length and weighing 31-37 grams. The wing coverts have yellow-green edges, and the underparts are olive brown with dark brown streaking. Voice: A loud, penetrating, thrush-like song, uttered from a rock or perch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ronald Olivier · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Buffy Pipit and Striped Pipit.