Sprague's Pipit

Anthus spragueii

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

17 cm (6-7") Uncommon. Central North America. Plains, grasslands.

Sparrow-like with a streaked brown back. However, it has a narrow thin bill. Its white outer tail feathers give it a Vesper Sparrow look. Pink or yellow legs. Similar Water Pipit has dark legs and no distinct streaks on back.

Song: hissing flight song; sharp, squeaky calls.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Brantley Lake, Eddy Co., NM - November 24, 2007

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird 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.

Sprague's Pipit

2 rules

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 4

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
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 PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · 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 · 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 · 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 ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:745-spragues-pipit:1:1 Source: 745 Sprague's Pipit, row 1

Rule 2 15 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
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 PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · 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 · 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 · 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 ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:745-spragues-pipit:2:1 Source: 745 Sprague's Pipit, row 2