The African pipit is a fairly small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It is also known as the grassveld pipit or grassland pipit. It was formerly lumped together with the Richard's, Australian, mountain and paddyfield pipits in a single species, Richard's pipit, but is now often treated as a species in its own right.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Widespread across open grasslands, savannas, pastures, and lightly cultivated fields. It favors short to medium-height grasses, road verges, airfields, and recently burnt areas where prey is easier to spot. It avoids dense woodland and tall rank grass but uses scattered shrubs or termitaria for song perches. Often occurs near livestock, which flush insects it can pursue.
Altitude Range
0–3000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Often called the grassland or grassveld pipit, it frequents open grassy habitats where it runs rather than hops, frequently wagging its tail. It performs a characteristic parachuting song flight, rising on fluttering wings before gliding down while singing. It is easily confused with Richard's Pipit but tends to be slightly smaller with finer streaking and a thinner 'tsip' call.
Temperament
wary and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides; display flights with parachuting descent
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs during the breeding season, becoming more gregarious in loose flocks after breeding. Nests are cup-shaped and placed on the ground, tucked into grass tussocks. Pairs are monogamous for the season, and both adults feed the nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A thin, tinkling series of notes and trills often delivered during a rising-and-parachuting display flight. Contact calls are sharp, high 'tsip' notes given while foraging or flushing.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with darker streaking, paler buff underparts with streaked breast, and clean whitish outer tail feathers. Feathers are fine-textured with subtle mottling that provides excellent camouflage in grass.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, termites, grasshoppers, and spiders. It also takes occasional seeds, especially outside the breeding season. Forages by walking or running on the ground, picking prey from the surface or just within the sward.
Preferred Environment
Short to medium grasslands, grazed pastures, airfields, road verges, and recently burnt areas where prey is exposed. Often follows livestock or forages along bare patches and termitaria.
