Sprague's pipit is a small songbird (passerine) in the family Motacillidae that breeds in the short- and mixed-grass prairies of North America. Migratory, it spends the winters in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Sprague's pipits are unusual among songbirds in that they sing high in the sky, somewhat like a goldfinch or skylark. It is more often identified by its distinctive descending song heard from above than by being seen on the ground. Males and females are cryptically coloured and similar in appearance; they are a buffy brown with darker streaking, slender bills and pinkish to yellow legs. Sprague's pipit summer habitat is primarily native grasslands in the north central prairies of the United States and Canada. The species was named after the botanical illustrator Isaac Sprague.
Region
Great Plains of North America
Typical Environment
Breeds in native short- and mixed-grass prairies from southern Canada through the north-central United States. In winter, it moves to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, using open grasslands and lightly grazed or fallow fields. It avoids dense shrublands and prefers areas with moderate grass height and litter. Fragmented or heavily converted prairie landscapes support it poorly.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Continental
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Sprague's pipit performs a remarkable aerial song display, hovering and singing high above the prairie for extended periods, making it easier to hear than see. It is highly sensitive to grassland fragmentation and favors large tracts of native prairie with minimal shrub cover. Nests are well-concealed cups on the ground, often with a partial grass canopy.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
hovering song flight; undulating flier between foraging areas
Social Behavior
Breeding pairs defend territories on extensive native prairie. The nest is a ground cup, often partially domed with overhanging grasses, and clutches typically contain several speckled eggs. Outside the breeding season it may occur in small loose groups while foraging but remains inconspicuous on the ground.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A long, ethereal series of tinkling, descending notes delivered from high overhead during prolonged hovering flight. The song can carry far and often reveals the bird when it is otherwise hidden in grass. Calls on the ground are soft and thin.
Plumage
Buffy-brown upperparts with fine dark streaking; underparts pale buff to whitish with fine breast streaks that fade toward the belly.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and caterpillars, along with spiders and other small invertebrates. It also takes some seeds, especially outside the breeding season. Prey is gleaned from the ground and low vegetation as the bird walks or runs.
Preferred Environment
Open native grasslands with sparse to moderate vegetation structure, often with some litter and bare patches. In winter it also uses lightly grazed pastures, desert grasslands, and fallow or stubble fields.
