American Pipit

On 15 September 2020, Erika and I spied an American Pipit at the Nisqually national wildlife refuge. Pipits are sparrow-like birds with small pointed bills. “American” is an odd name for a bird that breeds from central Asia south to Japan and only then across Arctic North America and Alaska south through the Rocky Mountains. Europeans more appropriately call it the Buff-bellied Pipit. Actually this bird was until recently called Water Pipit, found from Great Britain east to North America. Genetic work, however, indicates that the North American birds, along with those in eastern Asia, are genetically distinct from those in the western Old World.

Hendricks et al. (2020) warn that "Subspecific identification of American Pipits is difficult, and should be undertaken with great care.” Four races are known from our continent. The bird in the photograph appears to be the Pacific American Pipit, the race expected here in the Pacific Northwest. Clues to its identity include the faint back streaks, the moderate breast streaking that appears to be almost spotted on the sides, and the yellowish belly.