American Pipit, Anthus rubescens |
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![]() They winter on short grass and stubble fields, plowed fields, the edges of marshes, and beaches, usually in small flocks, around the Bay Area. |
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![]() This pipit, wintering in the Central Valley of California, has a less contrasty head, and less extensive streaking on the underparts, than the other pipits shown on this page; I'm curious if this suggests a different age (first-cycle) or a different subspecies, or is consistent with normal individual variation. |
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![]() American Pipits live mostly on insects, like this earwig, though on their wintering grounds they also eat seeds. |
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![]() Here's a wintering pipit on the beach. | |
![]() And here's one, above, on the frozen fringe of a Central Valley pond on a cold winter morning; below is the same bird seen face on. | |
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![]() The plumage is pretty effective camouflage in the short dry grass where many of these birds spend most of their winters. |