Photo: Ryan van Huyssteen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Pipit
Anthus cinnamomeus
African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 32.2 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 cinnamomeus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African 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 African Pipit is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) is a member of the Motacillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, c, s.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.2 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 9.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Pipit?
The African Pipit is a small bird that weighs around 32.2 g.
Where does the African Pipit live?
The African Pipit is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, c, s, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the African Pipit belong to?
The African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the African Pipit eat?
The African Pipit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the African Pipit migrate?
The African Pipit is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the African 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 African Pipit make?
1 real field recording of the African 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 African Pipit's range?
The African Pipit has a mapped global range of about 9.8 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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