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education: birds of georgia American Pipit, Anthus rubescens
Status: Common winter resident over the entire state except Mountains where it is an uncommon transient, 20 Sep (1997) - 14 May (1983). Extreme dates: Piedmont 7 Oct-13 May, Coastal Plain 20 Sep-9 May, Coast 8 Nov-8 Apr. Habitat: Tundra and above treeline in summer and freshwater shores, short-grass fields and plowed fields in winter. Nests on the far northern tundra of Canada and high mountaintops in the Rockies and Cascades of the western United States. As a species of the tundra, it seeks bare ground in winter. Often found in large, restless flocks. Diet: Mostly insects in summer and insects and seeds in winter. In summer, feeds on caterpillars, flies, beetles and moths and some spiders, millipedes and ticks. On nesting grounds in Rockies, searches in snow fields for insects paralyzed by the snow (see photo form Bald Mt. UT, July 2005). In winter, seeds comprise over half of diet, supplemented by insects. Coastal migrants may eat small crustaceans and marine worms (Kaufman 1996). Identification: A rather drab brown and white bird with bold dark streaking on the breast and faint streaking on the back. Dark legs key fieldmark. (Sibley 2000). Frequently bobs tail when standing in its characteristically erect posture. Face has a distinct pattern with a white supercilium and chin and a gray auricular. Flanks have some streaking as well. In flight, which is sometimes quite high, gives a sharp "pi-pit" call, which often is the first signal of its presence. Conservation: Widespread and common because nesting grounds are remote from human disturbance, and its wintering requirements adapt to land disturbance (Kaufman 1996).
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