American Pipit

The American Pipit was known and identified as the Water Pipit for a long time. Due to the differences in their calls, songs, and plumage, scientists later split the Water Pipit into various species, one of which is the American Pipit that we will be learning about today. Pipits are small and slender songbirds and have a large range of inhabitation,
occurring on almost all continents except Antarctica. Due to their wide range of occurrences, they are highly adaptable birds. The American Pipits, as their name suggests, inhabit the United States and its surrounding areas.

About American Pipits

The American Pipit is one of the few small songbird species that are documented to breed in areas of high altitudes such as the arctic tundra and alpine meadows. These birds walk with a chicken-like gait and resemble Sparrows in terms of their shape and size, and they are not particularly shy.

They generally sing in flight or when perched upon high grounds and produce a song that is a series of fast and high-pitched notes. Their songs and calls include several variations of these fast and high-pitched notes.

The best period to spot American Pipits is during the winter and in periods of migration. They can often be difficult to spot as they easily blend into their backgrounds due to their coloration. This species of Pipits can be found in tundra with a lack of trees, rocky areas, and along coasts that are left barren.

American Pipits like to inhabit areas with a lack of trees, therefore unlike other birds, clearing of forests by human and natural causes throughout the years has increased their habitat. On the other hand, drained wetlands which have turned into forests have had the opposite effect for this species. Alpine meadows are one of their most important
habitats, and they can be damaged by grazing animals. Global warming also plays a major role and can have an adverse effect on the breeding and nesting grounds for these birds.

We have a lot of information to share with you about the small and inconspicuous bird. Today we will learn about:

● American Pipit Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● American Pipit Size, Eating behavior, Habitat
● American Pipit Range and Migration, Nesting

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American Pipit Color Pattern

The American Pipits boast mainly two color schemes on their bodies. They have darker upper sides along with contrasting lighter-colored undersides. Adults of this species sport supercilium’s which refer to a stripe that runs from above the eyes of the bird to the beak. American Pipits sport a white supercilium which can have a pinkish tinge to it.
They have a grayish-brown color on the upper parts of their body with whitish-yellow steaking which looks like it’s outlining their feathers. Their wing feathers can vary between brown and black in color complementing their tail which is of the same color with the exception of outer tail feathers which feature a whitish color. Their underparts
feature a light brownish-white coloring along with a brown beak starting with a pale-yellow color close to the face and brown-black eyes.

Description and Identification

American Pipits are small and slender birds that are known to be as comfortable in high-altitude areas as they are on the ground. This species is one of the smallest in their genus with their size being comparable to the size of Sparrows. They have straight and slender beaks appropriate to the size of their bodies. They have long legs which like the rest of their body are also colored brownish-black. Both males and females of this species are similar in coloration and appearance.

American Pipits are often compared to their other pipit counterparts due to the similarity in appearance. As mentioned earlier American Pipits along with a few other species of Pipits were earlier categorized into the same species. They were later separated into different species due to their appearances, which are not extremely different from each other but distinguishable.

American Pipits can also be recognized through their various calls and songs, which can last up to 15 seconds each. They use various calls for several different purposes such as to defend their territory, to warn others of their species about a predator, to call for a mate, males also have a special call for females when its time to feed them, females answer to this with their own special calls.

American Pipit Song

As mentioned earlier, the vocalizations of the American Pipit are fast and high-pitched. They have several different calls and songs for various situations, in order to understand the situation, one must listen closely to the call.

When their territory is in danger, the males engage in a fighting display and produce a repeated call sound of “tjwee”. A vocalization of “piptititi” in rapid succession is another form of territorial fight display call.

In case of the spotting of a predator close to the next, both sexes vocalize a “peep” sound to alert one another or others of their species in nearby areas. Doing justice to its name, a general sound made by the American Pipit is “pip-it” which can be vocalized while in the air or on the ground.

American Pipit Size

In terms of their size and measurements, male American Pipits are slightly larger in size as compared to females of the same species, although size would not be the best way to differentiate between the two sexes as it can be misleading at times. In terms of length, male American Pipits can range between 15.5-17cm, whereas the females range between
13.8-16.2cm in length.

For the majority part of the year, males of this species can appear to have slightly higher body mass as compared to the females, but this can change around the breeding season when it is time for the females to lay eggs. During this time, the females can appear to be larger than the males.

American Pipit Behavior

The males of this species are territorial and in order to mark their territory, they are commonly known to engage in aggressive displays, acts of singing, chases, and fights. These behaviors also help them defend their territory. During the defense of territory, they are known to engage in flight displays which include long-distance chases with the
birds flying at high speeds at each other’s necks, often erratically. Sometimes they are known to abandon their territories right before egg-laying due to circumstances such as bad weather.

When on the ground, American Pipits are known to move at a leisurely pace unless chasing prey. They are also known to venture into shallow waters on occasion to forage as well as to bathe. Similar to their other pipit counterparts, they use the stand and dip technique to clean themselves.

During the breeding season, males tend to forage and feed the females who primarily incubate the eggs. The female generally feeds at a small distance from the nest. When the male has been successful in foraging, he brings back the food to the female at a spot away from the nest. From that spot, he calls for the female who responds to his call while
flying to him. Once she gets there, she flutters her wings rapidly and accepts the food from the male. American Pipits are social birds and display behavior that proves this.

American Pipit Diet

The majority of the diet of American Pipits is focused on invertebrates and seeds. Invertebrates can be terrestrial as well as freshwater. Generally, during the summer season, they feed on insects such as flies, spiders, moths, butterflies, small bugs, grasshoppers, ants, etc. During the winters; however, the focus of their diets shifts to various types of seeds available in and around their area of habitation. While inhabiting regions that receive snowfall, American pipits are also occasionally known to eat snow. During the breeding season, they are known to forage alone during all hours of the day and night, depending on the availability of food. However, during migration periods and winters, they can be observed foraging for food in small groups.

American Pipit Habitat

American Pipits prefer to inhabit areas with a limited number of trees. The habitats of their preference include treeless tundra, barren coastlines, mountain slopes, as well as pastures and agricultural lands.

During the winters, they like to inhabit moist and open areas near lakes, streams, flat and open areas near rivers, saltmarshes near beaches, etc. During the migratory season, they prefer wheat pastures, wet fields as well as ploughed fields.

Range and Migration

Pipits in general are spread all over the world. However, American Pipits, as their name suggests are native to the American continent depending on the time of the year. They inhabit areas in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

American Pipits are migratory birds. During the winters they tend to avoid staying in snow-covered areas, although some populations are known to inhabit snowy areas as well. Typically, they tend to migrate towards the south during the winters and fly back to the northern parts once the weather improves.

In Wyoming in the United States, before the beginning of the breeding season, American Pipits tend to migrate down from the alpine meadows towards areas of lower altitudes.

American Pipit Lifecycle

During the breeding season, female American Pipits lay between 3-7 eggs. They mate only once a year. The eggs are relatively small in size and fairly white in color with heavy brown spotting. They have a smooth surface which appear glossy.

First eggs are generally laid one week from the construction of the nest. The female lays the eggs one day at a time, usually in the mornings. In this species, the female is the only one that incubates the eggs while the male feeds the female during this incubation period. The incubation period can vary between 10-16 days.

Once the incubation period is completed, the eggs start to hatch. This usually happens between 24 hours and can take place at any time of the day or night. The hatchlings are fed by both parents, but more so by the male parent during the first few days as the female is brooding. On average, nestlings tend to leave the nest between 12-15 days from hatching.

Nesting

Nests are generally constructed on the ground in fairly open areas such as meadows and fields. A nest site is chosen which has some amount of vegetation that will help cover the nest.

Typically, females construct the nests while the male brings them the material required for the construction. American Pipits nests are constructed by first scraping a small part of the ground which is then lined with material such as twigs and dried grass. The nest is also covered from the sunlight through most of the day.

Anatomy of an American Pipit

The American Pipit is a fairly small bird, often compared to a Sparrow in terms of its size. It has a slender shape with a small neck and a rounded belly. They have relatively long legs along with a short beak that is wider at the base and gets narrower towards the opening.

Final Thoughts

The American Pipit which was earlier known as the Water Pipit is a bird covered in various shades of brown and white which help it blend into its background when on the ground and seem inconspicuous. This is a highly vocal species and is social in terms of its nature.

This species is known for its variety of songs which vary depending on their situation. In order to spot an American Pipit, the winter season and migratory periods are the best time. Due to their coloring and inconspicuous nature, as well as their size, it might be difficult to spot one. Look carefully in fields and pasture lands where it is easy for them
to blend into their surroundings. At the same time, be alert and listen to their songs and calls. This might help you locate them.

Another way to spot them would be positioned near the edges of water bodies such as lakes and streams where they might come to hunt for food. American Pipits are beautiful birds to look at as well as hear the calls of.

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying American Pipits

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing American Pipits are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

American Pipit Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the American Pipit. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.

Bird Feeders For American Pipits

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Best Bird Houses For American Pipits

There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. If you spend a little extra money on bird houses, it will be well worth every penny and they’ll look great.