Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Nicholson’s Pipit
Anthus nicholsoni
Nicholson's Pipit (Anthus nicholsoni) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Nicholson’s Pipit (Anthus nicholsoni) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 25.3 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Anthus
- Species nicholsoni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Nicholson’s 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 Nicholson’s Pipit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Nicholson’s Pipit (Anthus nicholsoni) belongs to the Motacillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 25.3 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Nicholson’s Pipit?
The Nicholson’s Pipit is a small bird that weighs around 25.3 g.
Where does the Nicholson’s Pipit live?
The Nicholson’s Pipit is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Nicholson’s Pipit belong to?
The Nicholson’s Pipit (Anthus nicholsoni) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Nicholson’s Pipit eat?
The Nicholson’s Pipit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Nicholson’s Pipit migrate?
The Nicholson’s Pipit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Nicholson’s Pipit make?
1 real field recording of the Nicholson’s Pipit can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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