Striped pipit

The striped pipit (Anthus lineiventris) is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae, which is native to Africa southwards of the equator.

Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, DRC, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is rocky areas in dry to mesic savanna.

Taxonomy and systematics
The striped pipit forms a species complex with the African rock pipit.

Subspecies
There are two subspecies:


 * A. l. stygium Clancey, 1952 – Angola, Kenya, DRC, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa
 * A. l. lineiventris Sundevall, 1851 – Botswana, South Africa and Eswatini

Description
It is a large pipit, ranging from 17 to 18 centimeters in length and weighing 31-37 grams. The wing coverts have yellow-green edges, and the underparts are olive brown with dark brown streaking.

Voice
A loud, penetrating, thrush-like song, uttered from a rock or perch.

Diet
It feeds on insects and other arthropods, particularly grasshoppers.