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Australasian Pipit

Australasian Pipit (Image ID 22168)
Photographed byCon Boekel on Sat 16th Jul, 2016 and uploaded on Sun 25th Sep, 2016 .
Resolution1400x1050
Viewed458
ID22168
CommentThis species needs to be separated from the Horsefield's Bushlark and the Eurasian Skylark.
Their ranges have significant overlap and, while the Pipit can be found more open and drier country and the Skylark is restricted to the more moist South-eastern corner of Australia, all three can be observed in the same area, at times.
If the bird has a crest up, it is probably a Skylark. (There have been reliable reports and images of Horsefield's having raised crests so this old stand-by needs to be treated with caution). But, in any case, most of the time the crest is not raised.
If the beak looks shorter and stumpy like a finch's beak it is very likely a Horsefield's.
If the bird wags its tail a lot and runs a fair bit and bobs, it is very likely a Pipit.
The length of the hind toe is diagnostic. The Skylark has a very, very long hind toe. The Horsefield's has a short hind toe. The Pipit's hind toe is more or less half way between the two.
The problem for the bird observer is that the three species three spend most of their time hiding their toes in the grass or flying with their toes tucked away.
A bird perched on a barbed wire fence is a gift!
LocationCoombs Pond, Australian Capital Territory
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