Plain-backed Pipit
Plain-backed PipitPlain-backed PipitPlain-backed PipitPlain-backed Pipit

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Virunga National Park
154 Verified records at Virunga National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The plain-backed pipit or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is found in open habitats, especially short grassland and cultivation. It builds its cup-shaped nest on the ground and usually lays three eggs. Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. The plain-backed pipit is a large pipit at 17 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking species, faintly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with light breast streaking. It has a strong white supercilium, and dark moustachial stripes. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Plain-backed Pipit sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 154 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Virunga National Park

Grassveld Pipit
LC

Grassveld Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus cinnamomeus

5–10% · With luck
Long-billed Pipit
LC

Long-billed Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus similis

<5% · Rare
Tree Pipit
LC

Tree Pipit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthus trivialis

<5% · Rare
Short-tailed Pipit
LC

Short-tailed Pipit

Bird

Anthus brachyurus

Insufficient data
African Pied Wagtail
LC

African Pied Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla aguimp

30–40% · Possible
Cape Wagtail
LC

Cape Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla capensis

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-throated Longclaw
LC

Yellow-throated Longclaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronyx croceus

10–20% · With luck
Mountain Wagtail
LC

Mountain Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla clara

5–10% · With luck
Western Yellow Wagtail
LC

Western Yellow Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla flava

<5% · Rare
Grey Wagtail
LC Endemic

Grey Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla cinerea

Insufficient data
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Chubb's Cisticola
LC

Chubb's Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola chubbi

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
5–10
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
30–40%
2 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
3 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
4 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
20–30%
5 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
20–30%
6 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
7 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
8 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
9 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
10 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
11 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
12 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
13 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
14 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
15 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
16 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
17 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
18 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
19 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
20 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
21 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
22 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
23 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
24 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
25 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
26 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
27 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
28 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
29 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
30 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Plain-backed Pipit in Virunga National Park?

About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Plain-backed Pipit sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 154 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Plain-backed Pipit in Virunga National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Plain-backed Pipit in Virunga National Park in our monthly data.

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