Anthus cervinus
Copied!
Mass
~20 g
Habitat
Grasslands and meadows
Diet
Insects and invertebrates
How to recognize it
The red-throated pipit is a small, plain-looking presence of open country, but in breeding plumage it becomes much easier to remember by the warm red on the throat and face. At other times it looks much less striking, with a slim shape and a strongly streaked pattern.
It is most often heard in flight, when it gives a sharp, dry-sounding call, sometimes a drawn-out “psii” and a quieter “chup” on the wing. Its song starts with repeated notes, then shifts into trills and scratchy sounds.
It uses open marshy lowlands, tundra, and northern taiga, especially places with shrubs and tall grass. It feeds on insects and seeds, and then moves far south for winter — to Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and in some places to Alaska.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The red-throated pipit is a small, plain-looking presence of open country, but in breeding plumage it becomes much easier to remember by the warm red on the throat and face. At other times it looks much less striking, with a slim shape and a strongly streaked pattern.
It is most often heard in flight, when it gives a sharp, dry-sounding call, sometimes a drawn-out “psii” and a quieter “chup” on the wing. Its song starts with repeated notes, then shifts into trills and scratchy sounds.
It uses open marshy lowlands, tundra, and northern taiga, especially places with shrubs and tall grass. It feeds on insects and seeds, and then moves far south for winter — to Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and in some places to Alaska.
