This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the American pipit.
This bird’s preference for the harsh conditions of Arctic tundra and high alpine meadows above treeline for nesting habitat means that most of us are not likely to run into them in summer. Only a few other species, including ptarmigan, some rosy-finches, horned larks, rock wrens and white-crowned sparrows, join them to nest in these extremes.
In spring, males arrive first to the breeding grounds, where, depending on food availability, they stake out a territory between one-third and five acres to defend. To attract a mate, he climbs up to 100 feet in the air and then spirals down with wings spread, singing the whole time.
In this sparse environment, a ground nest is usually placed up against a rock or plant overhang for protection in extreme weather. Spring snowstorms may interrupt nesting and force the birds to temporarily move downslope until conditions improve.
The American pipit was formerly called the water pipit, a reference to its preference for wet sites when foraging. Both terrestrial and aquatic insects make up the bulk of its diet. Foraging on tundra, in fields and along river and lake shores, this pipit moves with hurried walking, looking from side to side, bobbing its head and wagging its tail in pursuit of prey. It often abruptly changes directions and will wade into shallow water like a sandpiper.
In nonbreeding plumage, this sparrow-sized bird is grayish-brown above with variable amounts of streaking and cinnamon color on its breast. A white ring outlines the eyes and white outer tail feathers flash in flight.
In fall, these birds leave their remote breeding habitats and migrate to the southern United States and as far as Central America for the winter. In migration, they range widely across the United States.
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