General Description

Well-camouflaged, brown ground-dwelling bird, with darker brown streaks above and pale creamy white stripes on the eyebrows and below the cheeks. Underparts are creamy white, spotted and streaked dark on the breast. Wings and tail are dark brown, with the outermost tail feathers white. Bill and feet are pale pink-grey. Body length up to 18 cm.

Biology

The Australasian Pipit's diet consists of insects and their larvae, as well as seeds. It forages in a jerky, darting motion, stopping to perch on low stones or shrubs, wagging its tail up and down. Breeding pairs are formed after an elaborate courtship ritual, with males making swooping dives from a height, accompanied by a sweet trilling song. The nest is a depression in the ground, sometimes sheltered by a grass tussock, stone or piece of wood, and lined with grasses and hairs. The female incubates the eggs and feeds the young.

Distribution

Across Australia.

Habitat

Open country, in a range of habitat types from saltmarshes to dry shrublands and open woodland clearings.

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