Bisbita Sabanera
Yellowish Pipit
Anthus lutescens
Song
Yellowish Pipit
Appearance: The Yellowish Pipit is a small, slim, ground-dwelling bird with long legs and a rather short tail. It is brownish above with darker streaking, helping it blend into grass and bare soil. The underparts are pale buff to yellowish-white, usually with streaks across the breast and sometimes along the flanks. It has a pale eyebrow line, thin bill, pale legs, and white outer tail feathers that may show when it flies.
Habitat: This species lives in open country rather than forest. It favors natural grasslands, short pastures, seasonally wet or flooded lowland grasslands, agricultural fields, and open areas near lakes, rivers, or other water. In Colombia it is mainly a lowland species, reported below about 500 m.
Behavior: The Yellowish Pipit usually walks or runs on the ground while searching for food. Like other pipits, it may be hard to notice until it flushes and gives a thin call. It feeds mainly on small insects and other invertebrates, and probably also takes some seeds. It is generally a resident species, staying in suitable open grassland habitats year-round.
Breeding: It nests on the ground, hiding the nest among grasses. The nest is made of dry grass and plant fibers and lined with finer material. Clutches usually contain 2–4 eggs, pale with brown markings. Studies in Brazil found incubation of about 13–14 days, with young leaving the nest about 13–17 days after hatching. Males perform display flights, rising and then gliding down while singing.
Conservation Status: The Yellowish Pipit is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. I
Distribution
The Yellowish Pipit occurs mainly east of the Andes, especially in open lowland grasslands and savanna-like areas of northeastern Colombia, including parts of the Llanos/Orinoquía region. It is not a forest bird and is not expected in dense Andean or Amazonian forest.
Taxonomy
The Yellowish Pipit (Anthus lutescens)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Motocilliade
- Genus: Anthus
- Species: lutescens
Vocalization
The Yellowish Pipit has a thin, high-pitched voice typical of pipits, but it is not usually a loud or very musical bird.
Contact call: While walking or flying short distances over grassland, it may give a short, fine “tsip,” “sip,” or “seep” note. This helps birds keep contact in open grassy areas.
Flight call: When flushed from the ground, it often gives a sharper, repeated “tsip-tsip” or “sip-sip-sip” as it flies low over the grass before landing again.
Alarm call: If disturbed near its nesting area, it may give faster, sharper notes, such as “chip-chip” or “tsit-tsit-tsit,” while moving away or trying to distract the threat.
Song: The male’s song is usually given during a display flight. He rises into the air and then descends while giving a thin, repeated series of notes, often described as light “tsi-tsi-tsi” or “seep-seep-seep” phrases. This song is used mainly for territory and courtship.
