Plain-backed Pipit
Anthus leucophrys
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMotacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- GenusAnthus (Pipits)
- SpeciesAnthus leucophrys (Plain-backed Pipit)
The plain-backed pipit or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is found in open habitats, especially short grassland and cultivation. It builds its cup-shaped nest on the ground and usually lays three eggs. Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous. The plain-backed pipit is a large pipit at 17 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking species, faintly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with light breast streaking. It has a strong white supercilium, and dark moustachial stripes. Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Plain-backed Pipit sighting in Chobe National Park, based on 59 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Chobe National Park
Grassveld Pipit
Anthus cinnamomeus
Buffy Pipit
Anthus vaalensis
Woodland Pipit
Anthus nyassae
African Pied Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
Cape Wagtail
Motacilla capensis
Western Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Rosy-throated Longclaw
Macronyx ameliae
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Red-billed Oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Magpie Shrike
Urolestes melanoleucus
Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithii
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Plain-backed Pipit in Chobe National Park?
About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Plain-backed Pipit sighting in Chobe National Park, based on 59 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Plain-backed Pipit in Chobe National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Plain-backed Pipit in Chobe National Park in our monthly data.