Credit: Marcel Holyoak
North American field guide
Red-Throated Pipit
Anthus cervinus
Explore this bird
Identification
Field notes
14 cm (5-6") Rare. Asian bird but breeds in western Alaska. Tundra.
Rusty red face and breast, fainter in females and immatures. Straw colored legs.
Immature: heavily striped and may resemble Pechora Pipits.
Song: a high "seep" given in flight.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Red-throated Pipit, Carn Friars, Scilly, 200512
Credit: ARed Throated Pipits
Credit: Ron JacksonBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Red-Throated Pipit
2 rulesRule 1 15 criteria · confidence 2
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
- Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like · Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 2 16 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
- Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like · Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Fall
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States