Blyth's Pipit
Anthus godlewskii
A mid-sized pipit with pale brown plumage and a fine, dark bill. Strong streaking on the head, mantle, and back contrasts strongly with the pale edges of the feathers. The face appears clean and the eyebrow appears to start behind the eye. The wings show distinct white bars and there are fine streaks on the breast. Extremely similar to Paddyfield and Richard’s Pipits, but slightly bigger than the former and smaller than the latter, and paler and more contrasting overall than either of them. Inhabits grassy fields. The song is a series of short, raspy notes. The call is a sharp, explosive “shpeeu,” sometimes followed by single-syllabled “chup” notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Anthus godlewskii
- Authority
- (Taczanowski, 1876)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Genus
- Anthus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : s Russia, Mongolia and n China
- Non-breeding range
- India
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Togo Paradise-Whydah
Vidua togoensis
A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Yellow-winged Pytilias. As with other whydahs, breeding males are spectacular and bizarre, whereas non-breeding males and females are drab and inconspicuous. Breeding males are mostly black with a rufous breast, a yellow back of the neck, and a long, narrow tail. Non-breeding male and female plumages are poorly known, but show a streaky brownish back and pale underparts. Generally scarce and local in savanna and cultivated areas. Breeding male similar to other paradise-whydahs, but has a longer and narrower tail. Separation of non-breeding male and female from other paradise-whydahs is poorly understood. Not very vocal, but does mimic Yellow-winged Pytilia vocalizations, which include simple, nasal “teew” notes.
Giant Laughingthrush
Ianthocincla maxima
Large brown laughingthrush with an orange face and white-spotted back and wings. Like many other laughingthrushes, often forages deep in cover, but will venture out onto trails and openings occasionally. Repetitive song emanates from middle-to-high-elevation forests. Usually seen in pairs or small groups.
Tanzanian Illadopsis
Illadopsis distans
A chunky, mid-sized, remarkably drab babbler with a white throat and grayish breast. Found in the understory of moist forest at low and middle elevations, usually in small groups. Shy and skulking; rarely seen unless searched for. Similar to African Hill Babbler, but distinguished by the paler brown-and-white rather than solidly gray head. Most often detected by voice. The male gives two sweet whistles in a rising pattern: “troo-tyeah”, usually accompanied by quiet chittering calls from other group members.
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