Pechora Pipit
Anthus gustavi
Small, graceful ground-dwelling songbird of open areas with patches of low shrubby cover. Strongly streaked overall with a warm brown back and creamy underparts. Noticeably smaller than Richard's and Paddyfield Pipits, slenderer in appearance than American and Red-throated. Bold black-and-white streaks on back distinguish Pechora from other species. Song is an almost insect-like hard buzzing trill with harsher nasal elements. Call is a hard “tsik.”
Identification
A. gustavi is a small pipit, which somewhat resembles the non-breeding red-throated pipit. The species is heavily streaked brown above, with whitish mantle stripes, and with black markings on a white belly and buff breast below. It can be distinguished from red-throated by its heavier bill, whiter mantle stripes, and contrast between its buff breast and white belly.<p>This species creeps in long grass, and is reluctant to fly even when disturbed. Its call is a distinctive electrical zip. Although the call is generally helpful when identifying pipits, this species calls far less than most. This, combined with its skulking habits, makes this a difficult species to find and identify away from its breeding grounds in the Arctic.<p>Probably the best place in western Europe to see this rare species is Fair Isle, Shetland. The lack of cover on this small island makes skulking passerines easier to find.<p>The breeding habitat is damp tundra, open forest or marshland. The nest is on the ground, with four or five eggs being laid. This species is insectivorous, like its relatives.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Anthus gustavi
- Authority
- Swinhoe, 1863
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Genus
- Anthus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : nc, ne
- Non-breeding range
- Philippines to Lesser Sundas
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Spot-breasted Oriole
Icterus pectoralis
Attractive orange-and-black oriole of the Pacific coastal lowlands; local in interior and Caribbean lowlands of northern Central America. Found in tropical woodlands, edges, and semiopen areas with hedges and scattered tall trees. Associates readily with other orioles, such as Streak-backed and Altamira. As with most tropical orioles, sexes look alike: note the rather heavy, slightly decurved bill, black spotting on sides of breast, and mostly black wings with a white wedge on the tertials. Immature has greenish back, little or no spotting on breast, and wing pattern like adult.
Malachite Sunbird
Nectarinia famosa
Breeding male is unmistakable: bright green with a long tail. Non-breeding male is duller but usually still shows some iridescent green and an elongated tail. Female is a big, dull sunbird with a long bill. Found in fynbos, moorland, grassland, scrub, and exotic tree plantations. Restricted to high elevations except in South Africa, where it occurs down to sea level. Song consists of “tyep” notes and emphatic rattles. Female similar to female Bronze Sunbird but larger, duller below, and with a fainter eyebrow.
Swinhoe's Rail
Coturnicops exquisitus
This sparrow-sized rail moves like a ghost through grassy meadows and wetlands. Prefers to run instead of fly, but white wing patches are unmistakable if seen. Flight is weak with dangling legs, drops into cover quickly. Belly is white with brown bars on the sides and upperparts are darker brown with fine white stripes. Voice is the only way to detect this species; its repertoire is varied, with grunts, squeals, and tapping notes.
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