African pipit

Introduction: African pipits (Anthus cinnamomeus) can be found in various habitats that include open fringes of saline pans, moist grasslands, sparsely wooded woodland, roadsides and short vegetation that grows in dry floodplains. Habits include perching on bushes and fences when disturbed, tail-flicking or dipping between short running bursts and walking with a distinctive 'strutting gait'.

Distribution: Widespread throughout most of Namibia less for some north-western and south-western regions.
Diet: Forages on the ground or from low perches for mostly insects. Eats centipedes, solifuges, grasshoppers and beetles. Also consumes ants, seeds, termites and caterpillars, spiders and millipedes, flies and bugs.

Description: Buffy brown upper parts, including some mottling and streaking. Distinctive bold facial pattern. Cinnamomeus is a Latin word for 'cinnamon coloured'. Of the 5 subspecies of African pipit found in Namibia, the main differences between them centre around 'subtle colourations differences'.
Breeding: A typical nest would consist of dry grass and lined with fine rootlets. From 1 to 5 eggs are laid August to May, incubated for up to 15 days.

Size: 16cm.

Weight: 24g.