Sprague's pipit Anthus spragueii

Identification Tips:

• Slender bill
• Pale buffy face with white eye ring and dark eye
• White throat with dark malar streak
• Pale brown upperparts with thick black streaks
• Wings blackish with broad pale edges
• Buffy underparts with fine streaking on breast
• Black tail with white outer tail feathers
• Pink legs
• Sexes similar
• Most often found in fields with short grass
• Difficult to see, most often found when it is flushed

Similar species:

The American Pipit is similar to the Sprague's Pipit but the Sprague's Pipit has much less streaking on the underparts, more streaking on the back, a paler face, and pink legs. The Sprague's Pipit is easiest to identify by its call since it is rarely observed on the ground. It often calls upon being flushed. The rare Red-throated Pipit (breeds in Alaska and rare migrant in California) has a different call and more streaking on the underparts. Sparrows and longspurs can be found in similar habitats but have thick, conical bills.