Photo: Alandmanson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Buffy Pipit
Anthus vaalensis
Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Anthus
- Species vaalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Buffy Pipit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Buffy Pipit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis) is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s, sc, e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 7.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buffy Pipit?
The Buffy Pipit is a small bird that weighs around 27 g.
Where does the Buffy Pipit live?
The Buffy Pipit is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, sc, e, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Buffy Pipit belong to?
The Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Buffy Pipit eat?
The Buffy Pipit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Buffy Pipit migrate?
The Buffy Pipit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Buffy Pipit endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Buffy Pipit make?
1 real field recording of the Buffy Pipit — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Buffy Pipit's range?
The Buffy Pipit has a mapped global range of about 4.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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