Red-throated Pipit Photo Gallery

Adult

A small songbird with a thin bill, fairly short tail, and heavily streaked upperparts. Breeding adult is richly colored with pinkish to rusty-red throat, upper breast, and line above the eye. Sexes are similar, but individuals like this with extensive pink on the breast and underpart streaking limited to the flanks are more likely to be males.

Immature

Immature lacks adult’s rusty-red throat and eyeline and has more heavily streaked underparts. All plumages show heavily streaked upperparts. Frequently found on the ground.

Adult

Adult has a rusty-red throat and eyeline and a variable amount of rufous wash and streaking on the breast. Often found on the ground, but also alights on fences, wires, and other elevated perches.

Immature

During migration and nonbreeding season, often occurs in wet grassy areas, but also perches on rocks, bushes, fences, and wires.

Juvenile

Juvenile has heavy streaking on the throat and breast and lacks adult’s rusty-red throat, breast, and eyeline.

Adult

Breeds on alpine and coastal tundra across northern Eurasia (and in small numbers in western Alaska). Forages and nests on the ground.

Adult

Breeds in tundra regions, often in wet areas with willow scrub.

Nonbreeding/immature

In flight, note streaked rump and limited white in the outer tail feathers and listen for distinctive flight call—a high-pitched, descending peeez.

Adult

Forages on the ground for insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. Note heavily streaked upperparts, including two prominent whitish lines running down the back.