Jackson's Pipit
Encyclopedia
Jackson's Pipit is a rare and little-known Africa
n bird of the pipit and wagtail
family.
It occurs in montane
grasslands, migrating
to lower altitudes, in the east-central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and in southern Uganda
. Van Perlo shows an isolated population around the Malawi
-Zambia
border, apparently in Nyika National Park
. One specimen, the type
, has been taken in western Kenya
.
In appearance Jackson's Pipit suggests a dark African Pipit
. It averages about 16 cm (6.5 inches) long. The bill is dark with a pink lower mandible. The back is brown, darker than most other African pipits', with dark streaks. The head is the same color as the back and marked with white lores
(unlike many African pipits) and a white eyebrow that curves around behind the cheek to join a white malar
stripe. A dark sub-mustachial stripe separates this latter from the white throat. The underparts differ from the African Pipit's in being buff instead of white and having streaks extending to the flanks. There is also a buff patch on the side of the neck. Many of the wing feathers have buff edges, and the outer tail feathers are white.
Jackson's Pipit has been considered a subspecies
of the Long-billed Pipit
. (Sibley and Monroe suggested that it might be conspecific with the bannermani subspecies of the Long-billed Pipit.) It has also been considered a subspecies or morph
of the African Pipit. Van Perlo not only considers it a subspecies of the African Pipit, but in turn, like some other authors, considers the African Pipit conspecific with Richard's Pipit
.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n bird of the pipit and wagtail
Motacillidae
The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. There are around 65 species in 6 genera and they include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. The longclaws are entirely restricted to the Afrotropics, and the wagtails are predominately found in Europe, Africa and...
family.
It occurs in montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
grasslands, migrating
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
to lower altitudes, in the east-central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and in southern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. Van Perlo shows an isolated population around the Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
-Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
border, apparently in Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park is Malawi’s largest national park, with an area of 3200 km² .-Location and road access:The park covers practically the whole of the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi, about 480 km north of Lilongwe and 60 km north of Rumphi by road...
. One specimen, the type
Biological type
In biology, a type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached...
, has been taken in western Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
In appearance Jackson's Pipit suggests a dark African Pipit
African Pipit
The African Pipit is a fairly small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It is also known as the Grassveld Pipit or Grassland Pipit...
. It averages about 16 cm (6.5 inches) long. The bill is dark with a pink lower mandible. The back is brown, darker than most other African pipits', with dark streaks. The head is the same color as the back and marked with white lores
Bird anatomy
Bird anatomy, or the physiological structure of birds' bodies, shows many unique adaptations, mostly aiding flight. Birds have a light skeletal system and light but powerful musculature which, along with circulatory and respiratory systems capable of very high metabolic rates and oxygen supply,...
(unlike many African pipits) and a white eyebrow that curves around behind the cheek to join a white malar
Bird anatomy
Bird anatomy, or the physiological structure of birds' bodies, shows many unique adaptations, mostly aiding flight. Birds have a light skeletal system and light but powerful musculature which, along with circulatory and respiratory systems capable of very high metabolic rates and oxygen supply,...
stripe. A dark sub-mustachial stripe separates this latter from the white throat. The underparts differ from the African Pipit's in being buff instead of white and having streaks extending to the flanks. There is also a buff patch on the side of the neck. Many of the wing feathers have buff edges, and the outer tail feathers are white.
Jackson's Pipit has been considered a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Long-billed Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
The Long-billed Pipit or Brown Rock Pipit is a passerine bird which has a wide distribution. A number of subspecies have been created for the populations in Africa, through the Arabian peninsula and South Asia. The systematics of this complex is yet to be clarified...
. (Sibley and Monroe suggested that it might be conspecific with the bannermani subspecies of the Long-billed Pipit.) It has also been considered a subspecies or morph
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
of the African Pipit. Van Perlo not only considers it a subspecies of the African Pipit, but in turn, like some other authors, considers the African Pipit conspecific with Richard's Pipit
Richard's Pipit
The Richard's Pipit is a medium-sized passerine bird which breeds in open grasslands in northern Asia. It is a long-distance migrant moving to open lowlands in southern Asia. It is a rare but regular vagrant to western Europe...
.