American Pipit

1/800s at f10.0, ISO:2500, Canon EOS-1D X w/800mm, x1.4 converter


American Pipit as it is known in North America, is a small songbird found on both sides of the northern Pacific. Nests are most often found on the ground in dry or wet meadows, always with a helpful protection, but they are never placed in shrubs or trees. In general, the clutch size is 5 eggs but it can vary according to snowfalls, the parents reproductive ability and predation. Eggs are incubated for 13 to 14 days. During this time, the female does not leave the nest, but is still very reactive to any movement around its habitat. It communicates by singing to the male that brings her food and defends its territory. Four or five days after hatching, the young are skinny, blue-gray in color and only have their secondary feathers. For a week, the female will brood its clutch but both parents will feed them. After these 7 days, the birds are ready for fledging but their parents will still feed them 14 days after their departure. Finally, immature birds will form little flocks with other immature birds and wander off.
Nome, AK
 
06/21/2013