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You can repeat MattAxel's reply verbatim as my view...

Thanks everybody - I appreciate it a lot!

This little bird was seen in the Mountain Zebra National Park on the Ubejane Loop in April 2010 - need help with the ID please!

Definitely a pipit. Most likely long billed or african. Did you note any behavior/tail wagging?

Unfortunately cannot remember anything specific.

Hi there Naomi

Identifying pipits in itself is a difficult task and something even the most experienced birders struggle with.

On another forum we had quite the debate regarding a Pipit that had split verdicts and I am now left to put that photo in a "Whatever" bin as I just can't get to a conclusion..

If you want to go read it, I will PM you the website details.

Back to your pipit, and I will agree with Adrian, that it is either Long Billed or African.

But seeing that African Pipit is pretty much the most abundant pipit around, good protocol is to always ask yourself why is it not African pipit.

One needs to try and take a much closer look at what we have here. First off I can see clearly that this pipit has rather darkish breast markings, where a Long-Billed Pipit's breast markings would be diffuse and not as prominent. The second thing that I can pick up is that it looks like this pipit has white outer tail feathers which would point it more in the direction of an African Pipit.

I wouldn't completely bet my car on it though, but lets see if other people agree or disagree..

I just love debating over Pipits

I agree with Dot Dan's reasoning on it most likely being African.

My experience of long billed pipit, is that you tend to find them on boulder stewn koppies, rather than flat grass land, and then on observing them, they don't wag their tails, but rather give the tail a very subtle downward push on occasion to remind us they are pipits.

I agree with what DotDan and adrianp have said. Also this Pipit looks like it has a more distinct malar stripe and a more slender build than you would expect from Long-billed. When you see African Pipit and Long-billed Pipit together you can usually see that African Pipit has a more slender and light build than Long-billed.

African Pipit 101.. if it wags like a wagtail..

Thanx for all the replies.

While I was sorting out my photos for my TR, I came across some other unidentifieds and I have looked through my Sasol book and can't pinpoint them, so again, I am asking the experts for a bit of help.

Sorry for the quality of the photos.



I would put this one in the Shrike family due to the beak. The Zorro mask, could put it into the Batis family, but I think it is a bit big for that.



Thanks

I think your 2nd bird is a Tchagra. Its a bit difficult because one can't see the crown. My The buffy sort of wash in the neck points to Black-crowned Tchagra.

Rookie, your first photo looks to me like a juv Tawny Flanked Prinia. They tend to have a yellowish vent.

The second one is a bit difficult without seeing the crown of the bird, but on past experiences with Tchagra's I have noticed that Black Crowned Tchagra's tend to be the one's perched on branches and shrubs whereas Brown Crowned Tchagra's tend to be more lower shrub and ground dwelling that only pops out when it is investigating something. I have also seen more Black Crowned Tchagras in the KNP which makes me believe this is also one.

Hi Dotdan



Ever tried this with an Ostrich

Rookie I have to disagree with Dotdan on the Tchagra.
The Black-Crowned Tchagra normally has a black forehead (which is partly visible in your pic) and very black head even visible from the side, and pale to white underparts, while the Brown-crowned Tchagra has a thin black line on the top border not running all the way to the beak and greyish underparts as this one in your pic.