American Pipit
Anthus rubescens
Silhouette: Susan Murphy (original photograph), T. Michael Keesey (vectorization) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusAnthus (Pipits)
- SpeciesAnthus rubescens (American Pipit)
About the American Pipit
The American pipit (Anthus rubescens), formerly known as the buff-bellied pipit, is a small songbird native to North America. It was first described by Marmaduke Tunstall in his 1771 Ornithologia Britannica. It was formerly classified as a form of the water pipit. The former subspecies, Siberian pipit, is now considered a distinct species.
Like most other pipits, the American pipit is an undistinguished-looking species which usually can be seen to run around on the ground. It has lightly streaked grey-brown upperparts and is diffusely streaked below on the buff breast and flanks. The belly is whitish, the bill and legs are dark. The related Siberian pipit is darker above and has bolder black streaking on its whiter underparts; its legs have a reddish hue. The call is a squeaky sip.
Measurements: Length: 16 cm Weight: 22 g Wingspan: 24 cm The scientific name is from Latin. Anthus is the name for a small bird of grasslands, and the specific rubescens means "reddish", from ruber, "ruddy". Three subspecies are currently recognized:
A. r. rubescens - (Tunstall, 1771), American pipit – breeds in northern Canada east to Greenland and northeast United States... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of American Pipit in Banff National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Banff National Park
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Denali National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 13 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 15 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 16 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 17 | Celestún Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 18 | Wood Buffalo National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 19 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 20 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 21 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a American Pipit in Banff National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a American Pipit sighting in Banff National Park, based on 290 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see American Pipit in Banff National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for American Pipit in Banff National Park in our monthly data.