Photo: Kathy & Sam from Beaverton OR, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Pipit
Anthus rubescens
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 20.7 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 rubescens
Where it lives
Canada and Alaska to northeastern USA and Greenland. Also central, southern Rocky Mts. (western North America)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American 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 American Pipit is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) belongs to the Motacillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Canada and Alaska to ne USA and Greenland. Also c, s Rocky Mts. (w North America).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 6.8 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 12.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Pipit?
The American Pipit is a small bird that weighs around 20.7 g.
Where does the American Pipit live?
The American Pipit is found across North America with a range covering NA Canada and Alaska to ne USA and Greenland. Also c, s Rocky Mts. (w North America), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the American Pipit belong to?
The American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the American Pipit eat?
The American Pipit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the American Pipit migrate?
The American Pipit is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the American 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 American Pipit make?
1 real field recording of the American Pipit — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Pipit's range?
The American Pipit has a mapped global range of about 12.4 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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