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{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Taxobox
{{speciesbox
| name = Buffy pipit
| name = Buffy pipit
| image = 2013 Aug Sept-417.jpg
| image = Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis) (32193166550), crop.jpg
| image_caption = At [[Mountain Zebra National Park|Mountain Zebra NP]], South Africa
| status = LC
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{IUCN|id=22718489 |title=''Anthus vaalensis'' |assessors=[[BirdLife International]] |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Anthus vaalensis'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T22718489A131984595 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22718489A131984595.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animalia]]
| genus = Anthus
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| species = vaalensis
| authority = [[George Ernest Shelley|Shelley]], 1900
| classis = [[Aves]]
| synonyms =
| ordo = [[Passeriformes]]
}}
| familia = [[Motacillidae]]
| genus = ''[[Anthus]]''
| species = '''''A. vaalensis'''''
| binomial = ''Anthus vaalensis''
| binomial_authority = [[George Ernest Shelley|Shelley]], 1900
| synonyms = }}
The '''buffy pipit''' (''Anthus vaalensis'') is a species of [[bird]] in the [[Motacillidae]] family.
It is found in [[Angola]], [[Botswana]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Namibia]], [[South Africa]], [[Swaziland]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], and [[Zimbabwe]].
Its natural [[habitat]] is subtropical or tropical dry lowland [[grassland]].


The '''buffy pipit''' ('''''Anthus vaalensis''''') is a species of bird in the [[Motacillidae]] family. It is found in plains and open countryside in southern and eastern Africa. The [[IUCN Red List|IUCN]] has assessed its conservation status as being of [[least concern]].
==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==Taxonomy==
This species was described by English naturalist [[George Ernest Shelley]] in 1900. The [[IOC World Bird List]] recognises five subspecies: ''A. v. chobiensis'' in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Tanzania, northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe and western Mozambique; ''A. v. neumanni'' in central Angola; ''A. v. namibicus'' in northeastern and central Namibia; ''A. v. exasperatus'' in northeastern Botswana; and ''A. v. vaalensis'' in southern Botswana and South Africa. ''A. longicaudatus'' is an invalid taxon and is included in ''A. vaalensis''.<ref>{{cite web|editor1-last=Gill|editor1-first=F.|editor2-last=Donsker|editor2-first=D.|title=Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors & pipits|url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/waxbills/|website=IOC World Bird List Version 6.4|accessdate=17 December 2016}}</ref> Some authors include subspecies ''saphiroi'' and ''goodsoni'' of the [[plain-backed pipit]] (''Anthus leucophrys'') in this species.<ref name=HBW>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Tyler|first1=S.|editor1-last=del Hoyo|editor1-first=J.|editor2-last=Elliott|editor2-first=A.|editor3-last=Sargatal|editor3-first=J.|editor4-last=Christie|editor4-first=D. A.|editor5-last=de Juana|editor5-first=E.|title=Buffy Pipit (''Anthus vaalensis'')|encyclopedia=Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive|date=2016|url=http://www.hbw.com/species/buffy-pipit-anthus-vaalensis}}</ref>
* Buffy pipit - [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/719.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds]


==Description==
[[Category:Anthus]]
Its length is {{convert|16|-|18|cm|abbr=on}},<ref name=Sinclair /> and its weight is {{convert|23|-|36.6|g|abbr=on}}.<ref name=HBW /> It is often confused with the plain-backed pipit because both species have plain upperparts.<ref name=SABAP>{{cite encyclopedia|author=P. A. Clancey|title=Buffy Pipit|encyclopedia=The Atlas of Southern African Birds|url=http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/719.pdf}}</ref> The upperparts of the buffy pipit are paler and buffier than the plain-backed pipit. The buffy pipit has a pale supercilium, and its lower mandible has a pinkish base.<ref name=Hancock>{{cite book|last1=Hancock|first1=Peter|last2=Weiersbye|first2=Ingrid|title=Birds of Botswana|date=2015|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400874170|page=370|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H-d0CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA370}}</ref> It has faint markings on the breast, and the belly and flanks are buffy. The juvenile has mottles.<ref name=Sinclair>{{cite book|last1=Sinclair|first1=Ian|last2=Hockey|first2=P. A. R.|title=The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa|date=2005|publisher=Struik|isbn=9781770072435|page=366|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jZTl2rn9uTYC&pg=PA366}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[Category:Birds of Africa]]


==Distribution and habitat==
The buffy pipit is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with a distribution size estimated at {{convert|5660000|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /> Its habitat is semi-arid plains with grasses and bare ground.<ref name=Hancock /> It also occurs in pastures, burnt fields, and edges of saltpans.<ref name=SABAP />


==Behaviour==
{{Passeroidea-stub}}
One or two individuals are usually encountered, but flocks may be found in winter.<ref name=SABAP /> It frequently wags its tail.<ref name=Hancock /> Its song is a repeated ''tchreep-churup'', and the call ''sshik'' is given when the bird is flushed.<ref name=Sinclair /> It eats invertebrates and seeds.<ref name=HBW /> Breeding has been recorded from July to February in Zimbabwe and August to December in South Africa.<ref name=SABAP /> The nest is an open cup built on the ground.<ref name=Hancock />

==Status==
The population size is not known. The species has an increasing population trend and a large range, so the [[IUCN Red List]] has assessed the species as [[least concern]].<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2669742}}

[[Category:Anthus]]
[[Category:Birds of Southern Africa]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1900]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]

Latest revision as of 08:13, 9 February 2024

Buffy pipit
At Mountain Zebra NP, South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Anthus
Species:
A. vaalensis
Binomial name
Anthus vaalensis
Shelley, 1900

The buffy pipit (Anthus vaalensis) is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family. It is found in plains and open countryside in southern and eastern Africa. The IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern.

Taxonomy

[edit]

This species was described by English naturalist George Ernest Shelley in 1900. The IOC World Bird List recognises five subspecies: A. v. chobiensis in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Tanzania, northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe and western Mozambique; A. v. neumanni in central Angola; A. v. namibicus in northeastern and central Namibia; A. v. exasperatus in northeastern Botswana; and A. v. vaalensis in southern Botswana and South Africa. A. longicaudatus is an invalid taxon and is included in A. vaalensis.[2] Some authors include subspecies saphiroi and goodsoni of the plain-backed pipit (Anthus leucophrys) in this species.[3]

Description

[edit]

Its length is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in),[4] and its weight is 23–36.6 g (0.81–1.29 oz).[3] It is often confused with the plain-backed pipit because both species have plain upperparts.[5] The upperparts of the buffy pipit are paler and buffier than the plain-backed pipit. The buffy pipit has a pale supercilium, and its lower mandible has a pinkish base.[6] It has faint markings on the breast, and the belly and flanks are buffy. The juvenile has mottles.[4]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

The buffy pipit is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with a distribution size estimated at 5,660,000 km2 (2,190,000 sq mi).[1] Its habitat is semi-arid plains with grasses and bare ground.[6] It also occurs in pastures, burnt fields, and edges of saltpans.[5]

Behaviour

[edit]

One or two individuals are usually encountered, but flocks may be found in winter.[5] It frequently wags its tail.[6] Its song is a repeated tchreep-churup, and the call sshik is given when the bird is flushed.[4] It eats invertebrates and seeds.[3] Breeding has been recorded from July to February in Zimbabwe and August to December in South Africa.[5] The nest is an open cup built on the ground.[6]

Status

[edit]

The population size is not known. The species has an increasing population trend and a large range, so the IUCN Red List has assessed the species as least concern.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c BirdLife International (2018). "Anthus vaalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22718489A131984595. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22718489A131984595.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D. (eds.). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors & pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 6.4. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Tyler, S. (2016). "Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D. A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive.
  4. ^ a b c Sinclair, Ian; Hockey, P. A. R. (2005). The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa. Struik. p. 366. ISBN 9781770072435.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b c d P. A. Clancey. "Buffy Pipit" (PDF). The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
  6. ^ a b c d Hancock, Peter; Weiersbye, Ingrid (2015). Birds of Botswana. Princeton University Press. p. 370. ISBN 9781400874170.