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The wood pipit or woodland pipit is a small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It was formerly included in the long-billed pipit but is now frequently treated as a separate species. It is a bird of miombo woodland in south-central Africa, unlike the long-billed pipit which inhabits open grassland. It perches in trees when flushed but forages on the ground for invertebrates.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
It is 16-18 centimetres long. The upperparts are warm brown with dark streaks while the underparts are pale with some streaking on the breast. The bird has a dark eyestripe, white supercilium and pale outer tail-feathers. Juveniles have dark spots above and have more streaking below than the adults. The bird's song is high-pitched and monotonous. The long-billed pipit is very similar but has a slightly longer bill and tail, a smaller pale area in the outer tail-feathers and a slightly lower voice.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Wood Pipit lives
When to see the Wood Pipit
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Long-legged PipitAnthus pallidiventrisThe long-legged pipit, aptly named for its stilt-like legs and tall body.
Mountain PipitAnthus hoeschiThe mountain pipit is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae.
Ochre-breasted PipitAnthus nattereriThe ochre-breasted pipit is 13.5 to 15 cm (5.3 to 5.9 in) long.
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