Sprague's Pipit

Anthus spragueiiOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae)

Codes: Common Name: SPPI Scientific Name: ANTSPR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178499

Head

Topo Map: Perching-like Head

Bill Shape: All-purpose
Eye Color: Dark brown.
Head Pattern: Capped, Streaked, Eyering (complete or broken), Malar or malar stripe
Crown Color: Brown and buff with black streaking.
Forehead Color: Brown and buff with black streaking.
Nape Color: Buff and black streaked.
Throat Color: Buff-white
Cere color: No Data

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Body

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Length Range: 16-19 cm (6.25-7.5 in)
Weight: 26 g (0.9 oz)
Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
Color: White, Brown, Buff
Underparts: White with a buff wash and dark streaking.
Upperparts: Brown and buff with black streaking.
Back Pattern: Striped or streaked
Belly Pattern: Solid
Breast Pattern: Striped or streaked

Flight

Topo Map: Perching-like Flight

Flight Pattern: Swift flight on series of rapidly beating wings., Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
Wingspan Range: 25-28 cm (10-11 in)
Wing Shape: Tapered-Wings
Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
Tail Pattern: Solid
Upper Tail: Brown
Under Tail: Buff to white.
Leg Color: Pink

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Sprague's Pipit

Sprague's Pipit: Medium pipit with streaked, brown upperparts, buff breast with dark streaks, and white throat and belly. Eyebrows are white. Tail is brown with white edges. Thin, pale bill. Legs are yellow to pale brown. Its plumage blends well among prairie grasses, making it difficult to spot.

● Song: "sweep-sweep"

● Foraging & Feeding: Sprague's Pipit: Feeds on insects and seeds; forages on the ground by walking or running, constantly bobbing its tail.

● Breeding & nesting: Sprague's Pipit: Four to six buff or gray eggs marked with brown or gray at larger end are laid in a nest made of grass and twigs, lined with fine materials, and built on the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female; may raise two broods per year.

● Similar species: Sprague's Pipit: American Pipit has darker legs and lack streaks on back; constantly bobs its tail.

Flight Pattern

Swift flight on series of rapidly beating wings., Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Range & Habitat: Sprague's Pipit: Breeds from Alberta and Manitoba south to Minnesota and Montana. Spends winters from southern Great Plains east to Mississippi, and in the southwest. Preferred habitats include short-grass fields.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationUncommon to rare

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight0.9 Ounces

Perching-like Head

Perching-like Body

Perching-like Flight

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Sprague's Pipit

Head

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Body

Flight

Sprague's Pipit

Flight Pattern