The Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) is a
fairly small passerine bird of open country in Australia, New Zealand and New
Guinea. It belongs to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae.
The birds' numbers have declined in parts of New
Zealand due to the improvement of pastures, use of pesticides and predation by
introduced species.
It was formerly lumped together with the Richard's,
African, Mountain and Paddyfield Pipits in a single species: Richard's Pipit,
Anthus novaeseelandiae. Some authors split the Australasian Pipit further into
two species: Australian Pipit (Anthus australis) in Australia and New Guinea
and New Zealand Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) in New Zealand.
It is a slender bird, 16 to 19 cm long, and weighs about
40 grams. The plumage is pale brown above with dark streaks. The underparts are
pale with streaks on the breast. There is a pale stripe over the eye and dark
malar and moustachial stripes. The long tail has white outer-feathers and is
often wagged up and down. The legs are long and pinkish-brown while the bill is
slender and brownish.
It is a bird of open habitats such as grassland, farmland, roadsides, dry river beds, sand dunes and open woodland. It forages on the ground for small invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and insect larvae. It will also eat seeds such as those of grasses.
The breeding season begins in August. The cup-shaped
nest is placed at the base of vegetation or in the shelter of a stone. It is
made of grass and built by the female. Two to five eggs are laid, three or four
being most common. They are buff-white with brown blotching and are incubated
for 14 to 15 days. The young birds are fed by both parents and are able to fly
after 14 to 16 days. These Pipits have a sparrow-like chirruping call and a drawn-out
"tswee" call.
I have a short video which can be accessed at
http://youtu.be/TY3ruk1d9CI
http://youtu.be/TY3ruk1d9CI
If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.
I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.
Thank you for visiting.
Many thanks for your comments on any of my posts
A pretty little bird!
ReplyDeleteThe barbed wire really speaks to my country girl roots. :)
Nice captures Margaret!
It is a charmer and I really like its 'do' as well. Thanks Margaret.
ReplyDeleteI do like his hairdo!!
ReplyDeleteit's special Margaret; and isn't that a somewhat expected find ...on the barbed-wire fence!
ReplyDeletePretty birds and great photos. Your video was not working for me :(
ReplyDeleteHave a happy day!
lovely bird!
ReplyDeletelike carletta, i liked the barbed wire, too. cute crested bird.
ReplyDeleteA cute little bird with a rather dishevelled crest!
ReplyDeleteA handsome little bird! I love the barbed wire perch!
ReplyDeleteI do wonder how those skinny little legs and feet keep them anchored to wire and branches..fabulous shots!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots! I like the hair do and the barbed wire.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting little bird ... another I have never heard of. I don't think we have Pipits anywhere around here. They look like a sparrow with a crest ... really cute, Margaret. Thank you, as always for all of the information. If only I could remember it all :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @From The Sol
What an absolute little beauty. I just love your blog Margaret.
ReplyDeleteOoohhh, he's beautiful! I love how you captured him on the barbed wire and that creamy background that gradates from blue to green to gold. Marvelous!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful Margaret, fantastic photos as well.
ReplyDeleteCan not complain about this being split from the likes of Richards Pipit, that's a stoking heavy bill Margaret.
ReplyDeleteGood info, good post
Thank you for the wonderful pictures of and information about this cute little bird.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photographs, Margaret, to accompany a very interesting post! I suspect it must be a challenge to get one to be still long enough to take a picture!
ReplyDeleteNice little bird - I wonder how farmland birds would do without fence posts and fence wires!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
HI Stewart Very true. My old caravan would be wrecked by the cows and bull in the field where I have it is it was not for the barbed wire fence
ReplyDeleteCute little bird. I like the barbed wire perch.
ReplyDelete