Bird Guide

Tawny Pipit

Anthus campestris

Least ConcernInvertebratesGrasslandCup nestSmall · 23 g

About the Tawny Pipit

The tawny pipit is a medium-large passerine bird which breeds in much of the central Palearctic from northwest Africa and Portugal to Central Siberia and on to Inner Mongolia. It is a migrant moving in winter to tropical Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

This is a large pipit, 16 centimetres (6.3 in) long with wing-span 25–28 centimetres (9.8–11.0 in), but is an undistinguished looking species on the ground, mainly sandy brown above and pale below. It is very similar to Richard's pipit, but is slightly smaller, has shorter wings, tail and legs and a narrower dark bill. It is also less streaked. Its flight is strong and direct, and it gives a characteristic "schip" call, higher pitched than Richard's. Its song is a short repetition of a loud disyllabic chir-ree chir-ree.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Tawny Pipit sounds like

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where the Tawny Pipit lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Luxembourg, Tajikistan.

When to see the Tawny Pipit

Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Paddyfield Pipit vs Tawny Pipit · African Pipit vs Tawny Pipit · Red-throated Pipit vs Tawny Pipit · Olive-backed Pipit vs Tawny Pipit · Australian Pipit vs Tawny Pipit

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