Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni
The Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) is a uncommon wagtails and pipit found in 50 countries, weighing about 21 g. The olive-backed pipit is a small passerine bird of the pipit (Anthus) genus, which breeds across southern, north central and eastern Asia, as well as in the north-eastern European Russia.
About the Olive-backed Pipit
The olive-backed pipit is a small passerine bird of the pipit (Anthus) genus, which breeds across southern, north central and eastern Asia, as well as in the north-eastern European Russia. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to southern Asia and Indonesia. Sometimes it is also called Indian pipit or Hodgson's pipit, as well as tree pipit owing to its resemblance with the tree pipit. However, its back is more olive-toned and less streaked than that species, and its head pattern is different with a better-marked supercilium.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Size: Sparrow+ (ca. 15 cm (5.9 in)) Appearance: Greenish brown streaked with darker brown above. Supercilium, double wingbar and outer rectrices whitish. Whitish to buff below streaked with dark brown on breast and flanks. Sexes alike. Habits: Seen singly or pairs. Runs about on the ground in search of food and flies up into trees when disturbed. Flight jerky and undulating. Call: Song lark-like and uttered on the wing, similar to the tree pipit, but faster and higher pitched. A single tseep or spek, also similar to the tree pipit. Food: Insects, grass and weed seeds.
What the Olive-backed Pipit sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, France, Finland, Netherlands, Morocco, Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Palestinian Territories.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Olive-backed Pipit?
- Size: Sparrow+ (ca. 15 cm (5.9 in)) Appearance: Greenish brown streaked with darker brown above. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Olive-backed Pipit?
- The Olive-backed Pipit is a small sized bird weighing about 21 g.
- Where can you see an Olive-backed Pipit?
- The Olive-backed Pipit occurs in 50 countries, including India, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong SAR China and Thailand.
- What does an Olive-backed Pipit sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Olive-backed Pipit on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Olive-backed Pipit?
- The Olive-backed Pipit is most easily confused with the Red-throated Pipit, the Australian Pipit and the Tawny Pipit.
- Is the Olive-backed Pipit endangered?
- The Olive-backed Pipit is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Olive-backed Pipit for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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